Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Diary

Seize the day and check out one of the fabulous events taking place on the Brussels Airlines network this month

8-11 December

Festival Of Lights
LYON

This winter festival began as a religious custom in the 19th century, when locals placed a lit candle in their window on 8 December. The cumulative effect remains a wonderful sight, and is now added to with high-tech light shows that illuminate the buildings. www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr

Until 22 January 2011

Marc Hispard
BRUSSELS

The Young Gallery on Avenue Louise offers an interesting double bill: a retrospective of Marc Hispard’s fashion photography, and also his work with Argentinian painter Ruben Alterio. Their combination of the photographic and the pictorial is an experiment in how the different disciplines communicate with each other. www.younggalleryphoto.com

26 December

Symphonic Christmas Carols
VILNIUS

The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and the Dagilelis Choir will capture the Christmas spirit with a concert of upflifting music from Handel to Bach. www.lvso.lt

31 December & 1 January 2011

From Vienna to Moscow
ANTWERP

The New Year concerts of the Flanders Opera also mark a new season with Dmitri Jurowski in the role of principal conductor. They move from Vienna to Moscow, the Viennese section featuring operetta arias sung by Noemi Nadelmann before some stridently modern Russian works from Shostakovich and others. www.vlaamseopera.be

11 December

Nobel Peace Prize Concert
OSLO

This year’s concert to honour the Nobel Peace Prize – previous recipients of which include Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela – will be hosted by Denzel Washington and will feature Florence and the Machine, Herbie Hancock and Elvis Costello. www.nobelpeaceprize.org

9 December

The War Of The Worlds
BIRMINGHAM

Jeff Wayne’s musical of HG Wells’ sci-fi novel has achieved cult status, and this stage version will delight fans. Hopefully it won’t have the same effect as Orson Welles’ 1938 radio play, when panicked Americans believed Martians had indeed landed. www.thewaroftheworlds.com

Until 23 January 2011

The World Of Lucas Cranach
BRUSSELS

One of the great German Renaissance artists, Lucas Cranach was a court painter, staunch supporter of the Reformation and a close friend of Martin Luther. His portrait work provides a fascinating insight into court life in the 16th century, while his nude subjects are drawn from mythology and religion. www.bozar.be

17 December

Robyn
GOTHENBURG

Swedish songstress Robyn has had a big year, releasing her musical trilogy Body Talk for which she has received widespread critical acclaim. She returns home in December with a gig at Trädgår’n – the perfect way to get the party season off to a fabulously electro-rocking start. www.robyn.com

5-8 December

Oh Bej! Oh Bej!
MILAN

Celebrating its patron saint, St Ambrose, one of Milan’s most traditional festivals takes place around the Castello Sforzesco, with stalls selling crafts, antiques and plenty of tasty treats to keep you toasty warm – such as pancakes, roast meat, chestnuts and mulled wine. www.milanocastello.it

19 December

The Nutcracker, Moscow State Ballet
WARSAW

Tchaikovsky’s ballet has become a Christmas classic, with all the ingredients for a magical evening – enchanted forests, dancing snowflakes, a sugar-plum fairy, toy soldiers, a Mouse King and, of course, a handsome prince. www.kongresowa.pl

COMING UP

28-31 January Art First, Bologna (www.artefiera.bolognafiere.it)
2-6 February Copenhagen Fashion Festival (www.copenhagenfashionfestival.com)
6 February Juan Diego Florez & The National Orchestra of Belgium, Brussels (www.bozar.be)
18 February – 8 March Nice Carnival (www.nicecarnaval.com)

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