Christmas cheer has certainly been in the air of our rehearsal room this week. With Singing Trees, Elves, and Angels. Northern Opera Group organised our rehearsals to take place at the Yorkshire College of Music and Drama. This venue is a great space for rehearsals as it has been converted into different sized practice rooms. We rehearse in a large studio that hosts a lovely grand piano and plenty of space for staging the drama.
‘Christmas Elf’ involves both spoken dialogue and music and I have had a lot of fun working with my colleagues to tell the story.
To finish off our first week of rehearsals, today we are blocking the finale with the wonderful Community Chorus who completes our company.
During a little bit of downtime yesterday, I visited Harewood house’s Christmas attraction: ‘A Night at the Mansion’. It was extremely magical and full of Festive cheer, tinsel, and finely decorated Christmas trees.
I don’t want to give away too much about the experience, but I will explain that the concept was inspired by the Hit-Movie franchise ‘Night at the Museum’ starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams. It is after hours, the doors are shut, and no humans in sight, so the statues, paintings, and household objects come alive! (using a little bit of Christmas magic).
There are even little characters similar in size to the ‘Borrowers’ which took me straight to my childhood, searching for them in cupboards. It also made me reminisce about the times I went looking for dragons and fairies in the forests and mountain valleys of North Wales with my Mum, Dad, and brothers.
Here is their trailer to give you a sneak peek!
I thoroughly recommend a visit to the attraction if you are in the Leeds area over the Christmas period. Next Saturday (21st December) If you fancy a real Christmas treat perhaps you can visit Harewood House during the day and then come along to our performance of The Christmas Elf in the evening. What a way to start your Christmas off, I am sure that you will go home with a huge smile on your face full of Christmas cheer and delight!
Isn’t this a magical time of year?!!!
You are so right GP!! I really love this time of year, I get to see my family, decorate with tinsel and fairy lights and it is a great excuse to share a little love to friends and family. I hope your holiday season is so bright that you need sunglasses! Merry Christmas!
Best wishes
Charlotte
I did get the spirit early this year – and does feel good!! Thank you very much!!
All so festive. Thanks for sharing, Charlotte
There was lots of Christmas cheer during our full company rehearsal! We were rehearsing the scene where Santa comes to visit the town – everyone was so excited to see what props were created! Enjoy the magic of this festive season John.
Best wishes
Charlotte
That’s a really cute photo of you and Vincent. It looks like you are having a great time getting ready for the show. “A Night at the Mansion” looks very intriguing.
Thank you, Timothy. Michael and I are having a great time working together again – We are both able to be cheerful in ‘Christmas Elf’, which is a nice change from when we evil henchmen in Fire of Olympus. May this joyous season bring laughter and joy to you and to the ones that matter most in your life.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Great !! But why go back to childhood? I continue to meet elves, fairies and dragons all year long when I take my photos !!!! hihihihihih Best thoughts for You and all your family and loved ones !!! Happy advent time my friend!
Dear Pascal, I do love your Spirit for Life! I hope the New Year brings you new inspiration and that you continue to spread the joy of magic through you art creations! Vœux de Bonheur pour un Joyeux Noël!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Merci beaucoup Charlotte !!! Energy, happiness,and great thinghs for You !!!
Dear Charlotte, I wish you good luck with the show! What an interesting attraction, indeed! Alive paintings, sculptures, etc! It must be super impressive! 🙂
Thank you for your Good Luck wishes! Time is flying by and I can’t believe we open on Saturday! The attraction was spell-binding, I really had a magical time there. I thought it was a really inventive way to spread a little holiday cheer! Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year ahead.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for sharing a bit of yoursELF with us! <3
I love the brilliant word play here Annette! Keep delighting the world with your wonderful cheer. I am always so grateful to have a friend like you and Christmas time is a great reminder to say thank you! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful photos Charlotte, what a lovely venue. Good luck with the show and have a very Merry Christmas see you soon.😘
We are having a really fun time rehearsing at the moment. We move into Northern Ballet on Friday and I am really looking forward to seeing everyone’s costumes.
Merry Christmas to you and your family Gill! I’m looking forward to a new year of creating happy memories together.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I’m glad the Christmas Elf is coming along. The Christmas at Harewood looks very magical – If I were on that side of the pond, beside seeing the Christmas Elf (of course), I would have to see that!
I am sure you would have loved the experience at Harewood House Trent! Perhaps in the future I will get another opportunity to perform in America and hopefully be a little closer to you! Thankfully we can keep in touch over wordpress and I would love to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a fantastic start to the New Year.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Keep your eye out for a gig in Boston 😉 Thanks. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🙂
Good morning hothar beautiful performace best of luck
Thank you, Amritpal for the Good Luck wishes! I am so excited to perform this festive piece alongside my fantastic colleagues. I hope you and your family have a wonderful time over the festive period.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Night at The Museum is a very fanciful movie/tale. I surely enjoyed it! Christmas magic abounds… the hour draws near.
Dear Charlotte, “Christmas Elf” sounds like a wonderful Christmas production.
Season’s Greetings to you, and to your family, too.
-Resa ❦
I was so thrilled to have experienced a little bit of Movie magic in real life with my friends at Harewood House. Time is certainly flying past as we move towards our opening show and Christmas itself! As the year ends, I am reminded of how much your friendship means to me. Merry Christmas and we hope that you have an amazing New Year!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte, How exciting, what a fabulous attraction the photo’s and video were amazing.
Getting
excited to see you next weekend in The Christmas Elf..😘
I was glad to capture a little bit of the magic from my visit! I will certainly remember the trip and I hope to experience something similar in the future – perhaps with Opera?!
I am so excited that you can come to the Show, thank you for coming to support! Family is what Christmas is all about. So I’m very lucky to have you in mine!
Was Harewood house where Victoria was filmed? Looks magical. Good luck with your production xx
You have a great eye Christine! The ITV series did use Harewood House as a key location for filming. They transformed some of the rooms to look like Buckingham Palace! I haven’t yet seen the series, but after my visit I will add it to my list for the New Year! I hope you have your best Christmas yet.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks Charlotte, all the best for Christmas too xx
Beautiful Pictures Charlotte, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Hope that you have a lot of fun!!!!
Thank you so much Darlene. May this Christmas be filled with carols, great food and cheer and make way for a fresh and bright New Year.
Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Best wishes
Charlotte
This is exactly the sort of live show I love seeing and would want to see this time of year if I were over there. You’re not supposed to make people feel jealous for Christmas 🤣🤣🤣
Good luck. I hope it goes fantastically. Look forward to hearing more about it.
Hehehe!! Barney you make me chuckle! Sorry for stirring any feelings of jealousy – I hope a similar experience visits you locally in the New Year. I am looking forward to seeing photographs from the dress rehearsal of this production! I am sure there will be some funny images that would make a wonderful Christmas card for next year.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Had to go back and see what I was jealous of… lucky I found it in the previous comment or I would have had to have looked on the excel spreadsheet of current, open, and unresolved such jealousies.
Carry on 🎭
Hi Charlotte, thank you for sharing the photographs and how your experience is going. Happy to see your smiling personality. I have to add this to my Bucket List ..to see you perform Live.
Eric, seeing your name in my replies always fills my heart with Joy! Thank you for your kind words. That would be so magical if you can! If you are able to please let me know as I would love to say ‘hello’ in person. Here’s hoping you have a wonderful Christmas filled with moments you’ll always remember.
Best wishes
Charlotte
For you and the people who experience the magic of your Christmas music, a very Merry Holiday Season from across the pond.
Thank you Sheila for your warm wishes! May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with laughter.
Best wishes
Charlotte
All the best to you on the upcoming performance, Charlotte. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love and laughter Lavinia. Thank you for kind wishes I shall think of you when I sing on stage and spread Christmas Cheer. All the best for the New Year!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks for sharing the Harewood House ‘Night at the Mansion’ and your photos. This looks such fun (and I searched for Borrowers when I was young, too)!
Best of luck with your final rehearsals and the upcoming performances, Charlotte and have a wonderful Christmas!
Sorry for my lateness in replying Clare, time is running away from me 😊. I’ve had two hours stuck on a train now so thank goodness I have time to catch up.
My best wishes
Charlotte
How miserable getting stuck on a train! You need never apologise for replying late as I know how busy you are! I still haven’t caught up with my blog reading after the Christmas busyness.
Looks like your Christmas is a fun and exciting one, Charlotte, on top of musical. Enjoy!
Sorry for my lateness in replying I’ve had a lovely Christmas and New Year, watched Cats and Star Wars at the cinema, loved Cats but then I love musicals, there were a few moments I thought could be done better but the standard of dancing was excellent and I loved the sets. Star Wars – let’s just say my brothers, George and Dad loved it! I couldn’t believe the ending he’s the best character! I watched a couple of good films too on Amazon Prime and Netflix I must bob over to your site soon.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
There were quite a few good movies that came out during the holidays, Little Women is one I highly recommend. Another one is A Hidden Life. Both I’ve reviewed. As for films with a music theme, there’s The Song of Names. You can check on my Ripple Effects post for Top Ripples of 2019 and the Decade.
Sorry I sent my comment to your post twice cause I didn’t know if it had gone through the first time. Guess now you have double the well-wishes. Congrats again! 🙂
Magic indeed!
Sorry for my lateness in replying Col, time is getting away from me this past month. Taking a week off just means a weeks work has to be caught up on!
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte,
Sorry for my tardiness. When it gets to holiday time, a lot things slip to the side with the intent of revisiting “just in time” … but “just in time” always comes afterward. Looks like your production must have been fun. I think I might have told you opera in Colorado is a rare happening. We do have a summer opera festival, but they always play when we’re out-of-state when the daughters are on their equestrian campaign.
Anyways, my youngest daughter has a singing gig on New Year’s night at one of the local restaurants. The music will be from the Fleetwood Mac catalog. We’ll be playing a small set tonight as a preview. Looking forward to it.
Hope you had a very nice Christmas. Have a great new year ahead.
David
Never apologise for a late comment David every message is much welcome and I have been just as bad this past month, taking a week off my working life just means I have all that work to catch up with. Its sad opera takes a back seat in lots of areas, I’ve enjoyed touring around England this year and taking opera to places that don’t usually get much opera to watch.
I hope your daughters singing gig went well, what fun a booking on New Years Eve. My Mum loves Fleetwood Mac and I heard some during my Christmas break on her playlist. It’s always good to practice for a well-meaning family audience before the gig.
I hope you had a very nice Christmas and New Year too. Good luck to you and all the family in 2020.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Elizabeth’s singing gig went very well. The plan was to do two sets, with both sets different in terms of playlist. I was her lead guitar, mom Andrea on keboards, her bass player and drummer-percussionist from a church band Andrea and I sang with years ago. It ended up becoming a single, 90-minute concert. The restaurant was full with the overflow spilling out onto the sidewalk. We had fun.
Our holidays were very nice. It’s safe to say 2020 is starting well.
Stay well,
David