What Christmas gift do you buy for the culture-lover in your life who seems to have everything? Buying a thoughtful present that is appreciated and will be used – and not immediately regifted come the New Year – is the holy grail.
Luckily, our staff is made up of people who not only know a lot about the classical music, opera and dance world, but are all living it. Here is what is on our Christmas lists this year – maybe some of these ideas can help you buy for your family and friends, or perhaps inspire your own list.
Make Your Own Music Box kit
Katia de Miguel, Spanish Editor
A personalised music box is such a nostalgic thing. Music boxes were very common when I was a child, and every single one, no matter how simple, would have a different melody. It seems that nowadays most of the music boxes I come across share the same few melodies. So, in the hope of being patient enough and bringing out some basic composing skills, I’d like my own music box with as many melodies as possible!
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(€ Spanish Amazon site, ships worldwide)
Mozartkugel Musical Box
Mark Pullinger, Editor
Salzburg is a wonderful place to visit, and my Christmas present choice for the music lover in your life combines two of its finest exports: Mozart and Mozartkugeln, the spherical chocolate and marzipan confections named after him. The Mozartkugel Musical Box is made from waxed beechwood shaped like the chocolate and plays Cherubino’s aria “Voi che sapete” from The Marriage of Figaro.
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(€ Greek site, ships worldwide)
Music Stand Light
Jo Johnson, Head of Marketing
The most useful item on my Christmas list this year is a clip-on light for music stands. I play the violin in an amateur orchestra, and the venue where we perform has pretty terrible lighting on the stage. I’m squinting at the page during every concert, cursing my lack of a stand light. Mind you, it’s a good excuse for not quite getting all the notes right…
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(£ UK site, ships worldwide)
Singer’s music folder
Alison Karlin, Director
A really good black folder is a great present for any choral singer. It should have room for several bound scores or lots of one-page songs, and a strap you can slip your hand through at the back, so you can hold it safely with one hand for two hours without getting cramp. This would be a truly deluxe gift for me!
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(€ German company, ships worldwide)
Lacrimosa board game
Maggie Kochoska Spiroski, Admin Officer and Listings Guru
My husband and I have been thinking about upgrading our board game collection recently, and we came across the perfect board game to add to the list – Lacrimosa. It’s a splendid way to encourage non-musician friends to discover more about Mozart’s life and works, through a fun competition to become Mozart’s biggest patron.
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(£ UK site, ships to EU and US)
Ballet Scandals by Julian Braunsweg
Deborah Weiss, Dance Editor
This is still a great read and full of humour! Published in 1973, it's about the challenges of founding and running a touring ballet company and the many dramas and hilarious situations that are a daily occurrence. Festival Ballet is now English National Ballet, but I am sure that many of the tales told will resonate with anyone interested in the profession today, particularly if you like some gossip-worthy reading fodder (and who doesn’t?).
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(£ UK site, shipping dependent on individual sellers)
Mozart Playmobil figure
Stoyancho Bakovski, Sales
Working from home is a solitary experience, and I can always use some genius company and astute musical counsel. That’s why I decided that it’s time to treat myself to Playmobil’s charming Bach figure, complete with his violin, quill, and some Baroque flair. This iconic composer and I are ready to make history…
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(£ UK Amazon site, ships worldwide)
Shokz OpenFit 2+ earphones
David Karlin, Director
These are superb: decent sound, good battery life and unbelievably comfortable. Perfect for anyone wanting to listen to music for long periods of time in places where they’re supposed to be quiet… (although not noise-cancelling, so not perfect for, say, the tube).
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(£ UK site, ships worldwide)
The Story Orchestra
Elisabeth Schwarz, German Editor
If you are a cool classical music auntie like me, but prefer musical memories without the hassle of taking your "borrowed" children on public transport for a live performance, The Story Orchestra range of books has you covered. It's a wonderful introduction to classical works like The Nutcracker or Vivaldi's Four Seasons, with beautiful illustrations and buttons to press throughout to listen to the music, ensuring sparkling eyes and hubbub.
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(£ UK site, ships worldwide)
Boite à Bravo
Tristan Labouret, French Editor
You know the Moo Box, now here’s the Bravo Box! Ideal for punctuating rehearsals between amateur musicians playing (more or less) in tune, or for applauding a particularly inspired improvisation (or not).... There’s also the ‘merde box’, very useful for wishing each other good luck and lightening the mood backstage. Provided you use it in moderation...
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(€ French site, ships in metropolitan France, Corsica and Europe excl. UK, Switzerland, Cyprus & Malta)
OTHER IDEAS: Organisations' own online shops
Many of the great cultural institutions around the world have their own shops, and buying directly often supports the company and its activities, especially its charitable aims. Here are a few we loved:
Mini Boden x English National Ballet
For any little ballerinas in your life, Boden's children's collection, inspired by the magical Nutcracker, contains pieces for school concerts, nursery parties, family gatherings and Christmas Day itself, all made with comfortable fabrics and thoughtful detailing.
Browse the collection
Reiss x The Royal Ballet
It's not just the kids who can dress for the ballet. This unique collaboration blends Reiss' modern design aesthetic with the world-class language of movement, dance and performances seen on the Royal Ballet and Opera's stages. Every purchase supports the Royal Ballet and Opera.
Browse the collection
Chicago Symphony Store
The Chicago Symphony's shop is a treasure trove of items from homeware and stationery to ornaments and jewellery, and of course CSO-branded items and recordings.
Browse the collection
Met Opera Shop
Probably the most comprehensive opera shop on the internet - you can even dress your phone up for a night at the opera, or perhaps bring a little slice of glamour home with a replica chandelier?
Browse the collection
Philharmonie de Paris La librairie
The Philharmonie publishing house publishes reference works on music, echoing the concerts and activities happening at Paris's major venue, including books for children, collaborations with the museum and the writings of major artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
Browse the collection
OTHER IDEAS: Streaming site subscriptions
Lots of the video streaming sites are offering gift cards and subscriptions:
Stage+
Medici.tv
Symphony.live
Berliner Philharmoniker Digital Concert Hall
Marquee TV
Idagio
Presto Music
Vialma
OTHER IDEAS: Gift vouchers for tickets or memberships
Orchestras, opera companies and ballet companies around the world offer various ways to give people access to concerts and performances or memberships for deeper involvement. Here are a few, but do get in touch with your local company to check what they offer:
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra
Berliner Philharmoniker
Oper Frankfurt
BCN Classics (Barcelona)
Teatro Real (Madrid)
Opéra National de Paris
Opéra National de Lorraine
West Australian Ballet
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Musikverein, Vienna
Latvian National Opera and Ballet
Royal Swedish Opera
Grieghallen, Bergen
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
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