Last night's Northern Sinfonia concert at the Sage included an extended selection from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker--all the familiar items plus a few which aren't heard quite so often.  Like everyone else I've heard the Sugar Plum Fairy, Russian Dance, Chinese Dance and all the rest more often than I care to think.  But actually seeing the orchestra playing them--watching the conductor in action, noting which instruments were playing at what points--certainly freshened the music.

Ian.