The foyer was as full as I have ever seen it at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre, in itself a fantastic sight, the audience a wonderful colourful array of princesses and ballerinas. An electric buzz filled the air, the kind of buzz that theatre and Christmas should be filled with. The wonder and anticipation that something is about to happen, something spectacular and awe-inspiring.

The conductor strikes up the orchestra from the VSO for a brief warm up, the audience is electrified, rapturous applause followed the brief interlude. The orchestra take what will be the first of three highly deserved...