THE Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia are heading to Bristol with a trio of festive works.

Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and the Snow Maiden will all be performed at Bristol Hippodrome in January.

The Nutcracker Tuesday 5 January at 7.30pm This most famous of fantasy ballets for all the family begins as night falls on Christmas Eve. As snowflakes fall outside, the warm glow of the open fire sends flickering shadows across the boughs of the Christmas tree and all the presents beneath. When midnight strikes we are swept away to a fairy-tale world where nothing is quite as it seems, toy dolls spring to life, the Mouse-king and his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker Prince and we travel through the Land of Snow to an enchanted place where the magic really begins...

The Snow Maiden Wednesday 6 January at 7.30pm Protected from the outside world by Father Frost, the exquisite Snow Maiden plays innocently amongst the dancing snowflakes in the enchanted Land of Frost. Based on a traditional folk-tale, set in the snow covered landscape of rural Russia, this seasonal sparkler follows the Snow Maiden as she dances into the human world. Captivated by the colourful village and the people who live there, she ventures too far and is swept up by feelings of love, temptation and betrayal. When finally she surrenders herself completely and warms to love, her heart melts in a tragic embrace.

Swan Lake Thursday 7 January at 2.30 & 7.30pm The greatest romantic ballet of all time is brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s haunting and unforgettable score. From the impressive splendour of the Palace ballroom to the moon-lit lake where swans glide in perfect formation, this compelling tale of tragic romance has it all. From Odile, the temptress in black tulle as she seduces the Prince by spinning with captivating precision to the spellbound purity of the swan queen, Odette as she flutters with emotional intensity, the dual role of Odette/Odile is one of ballet’s most unmissable technical challenges.

RUSSIAN STATE BALLET OF SIBERIA Tuesday 5th – Thursday 7th January 2016 Performances: Tuesday 5th The Nutcracker @ 7.30 pm Wed 6th The Snow Maiden @ 7.30 pm Thu Swan Lake @ 2.30 pm & 7.30 pm Tickets: from £15.40 Concessions available at certain performances