Festive favourites at Sage Gateshead this Christmas

Magical Snowman concerts, Christmas with the Rat Pack, Santa’s Winter Wonderland and a New Year’s Eve Party with The Brand New Heavies are among the seasonal highlights and star-studded concerts at Sage Gateshead this Christmas. The festive celebrations begin on Monday November 25 (2.30pm) with the first of the free Seasonal Music on the Concourse performances (full programme on website). There is something for all the family from the ever-popular The Snowman concerts with Royal Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of Sage Gateshead playing the score of the enchanting children’s story live, while the animated classic is shown on the big screen (Monday December 23, 2pm & 5pm; Tuesday December 24 & Friday December 27, 11am & 2pm); to Christmas with the Rat Pack where you can relive all the music and glamour of those glitzy Las Vegas nights in the Christmas version of this established show (Friday December 13, 7.30pm). Other seasonal concerts include the timeless sounds of Russian Patriarchate Choir of Moscow (Thursday December 12, 7.30pm) and Bulgarian Voices Angelite (Wednesday December 18, 8pm); traditional Yuletide songs from York Waits with Deborah Catterall: Drive the Cold Winter Away (Saturday December 7, 8pm); Thea Gilmore (Friday December 13, 8pm); Kate Rusby at Christmas (Thursday December 19, 7.30pm) and Albion Christmas Band – An Albion Christmas (Saturday December 21, 8pm). Party season is upon us with a host of Christmas crackers to enjoy including 80s triple-header Go West, Hue & Cry and special guests The Christians (Thursday December 5, 7.30pm); sassy reworking of festive hits with Christmas with The Puppini Sisters (Friday December 6, 7.30pm); Letz Zep (Saturday December 14, 8pm); Only Men Aloud (Tuesday December 17, 7pm) and legendary The Drifters 60^th Anniversary Diamond Dynasty Tour (Saturday December 21, 7.30pm). Kick off 2014 in style and choose from the New Year’s Eve Party with The Brand New Heavies (Saturday December 31, Hall One, 9pm) or New Rope String Band (Saturday December 31, Hall Two, 9pm) where tickets for both concerts entitle you to join the Late Night Party on the Concourse with live music from Nick Pride and The Pimptones plus homespun DJs, dancing and a Champagne bar. Sage Gateshead’s classical season continues with the time-honoured Royal Northern Sinfonia Christmas Concerts with carols, laughter and readings from special guest presenter Angela Rippon (Saturday December 14, 7.30pm & Sunday December 15, 3pm); Alan Fearon conducts Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus in Handel’s magnificent ‘Messiah’ (Sunday December 1, 7pm); and the annual Royal Northern Sinfonia New Year’s Viennese Gala is conducted by Joseph Swenson (Wednesday January 1, 3pm & 7pm).   On Sunday December 1, Santa’s Winter Wonderland opens its doors and little ones can join in with seasonal singing, crafts and share their Christmas wishes with Santa (most Saturdays and Sundays in December, and Monday 23 and Tuesday 24, 11am and 1.30pm). Plus there will be lots of opportunities to hear the talents of many of the participants, groups and students involved in Sage Gateshead’s Learning and Participation work (full details on the website). There is also a wide selection of festive musical novelties and decorations, great gift ideas and stocking fillers plus The Snowman range available in the Shop (open daily, 9am-late). Little treats for the festive season on sale in The Sir Michael Straker Café (open daily, 9am-late) along with Christmas lunch and dinner menus in The Brasserie - call 0191 443 4654 to book your table (available from Monday December 2, open daily from 5-9pm and 12noon-3pm on Sundays). To book tickets call 0191 443 4661 or book online at sagegateshead.com. Concessions are also available on many concerts – please check when booking.