Performer: Jean Rosenthal

A triple bill comprising Balanchine's Symphony in C, Agon and Firebird could not have been more inspiringly danced by New York City Ballet.

The best performances of Balanchine’s Nutcracker are always the SAB children. Year after year, they capture not just the steps but the emotions behind Nutcracker.

The programme’s middle work sees a detour from Stravinsky, to the music of Richard Strauss, lending itself to more lyrical work and some respite from the drama it's sandwiched between.