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Home , Christmas in Scotland, Raymond Gubbay, Simon Halsey

/bɒ̃ viːˈvɒ̃, French bɔ̃ vivɑ̃/ {n}: A person who devotes themselves to a sociable and luxurious lifestyle HOLIDAY 2017 HOLIDAY 2017

Dear Friends,

I’m delighted to bring you our second edition of BON VIVANT Holiday. Though you may still be reminiscing about summers spent in sunnier climes, now is the time to start thinking ahead to the festive season!

Because the holiday season is something many folks don’t think about until too late, we thought we’d give Platinum a leg up with a special Holiday guide providing top picks for the festive season – from shows to Diwali celebrations, from Chanukah concerts to New Year’s Eve itineraries.

These book up fast, so take advantage of the advanced notice and book now.

We hope that this edition will help you plan one of your most exciting festive seasons to date!

Yours sincerely, Rafael Mason Vice President Head of Product, Marketing & Brand American Express, UK 03 Christmas & More

London — Christmas with the Symphony Orchestra

SIMON HALSEY / LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Barbican, 3 December 2017

When it comes to evoking that ‘festive feeling’, there’s nothing quite like singing along to a concert of Christmas carols. Now in its fourth year, the London Symphony Orchestra invites an audience of all ages to take part in a choral celebration, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble. This one’s a real seasonal treat – complete with mince pies, Santa hats and glad tidings aplenty – so make sure you don’t miss out. IMAGE © LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA London — Christmas with Russell Watson

RUSSELL WATSON / LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA Barbican, 23 December 2017

Though Russell Watson did not train as a classical artist, his illustrious career has earned him the title of ‘The People’s Tenor’. As part of this year’s Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival, the acclaimed vocalist will take to the stage for a fantastic recital of festive favourites, accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra. If you didn’t get to catch Russell in his UK tour this autumn, this is the perfect chance to see what he does best. 04

CHRISTMAS UK

London / — The

THE ROYAL BALLET Royal Opera House 5 December 2017 – 10 January 2018

ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET London Coliseum 13 December 2017 – 6 January 2018 London — SCOTTISH BALLET Various Locations across Scotland Christmas Jazz 9 December 2017 – 27 January 2018

at Ronnie Scott’s The Nutcracker is a timeless spectacle that is also an institution, but every production still manages Ronnie Scott’s, 1 – 23 December 2017 to offer something different. Purists will love Peter Wright’s version; performed by The Royal Ballet, Come December, Ronnie Scott’s transforms into it stays true to tradition by incorporating original a magical, even more spirited version of itself with material from Lev Ivanov’s 1892 ballet. Meanwhile, a programme of Christmas Cabaret Lunches. Wayne Eagling’s adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Much loved by jazz aficionados and merrymakers staged by the at the London alike, each lunch instalment promises a line-up Coliseum, tweaks traditional tropes. Beyond London, of cherry-picked festive jazz renditions, coupled the Scottish Ballet offers audiences a sumptuous, with delicious food and champagne. The audience snow-flecked performance that demonstrates some even has the chance to ‘challenge the band’ in of choreographer Peter Darrell’s finest work. a musical improv that is sure to have everyone IMAGE © THE ROYAL BALLET singing and swinging to fast-paced festive tunes. IMAGE © GREGORY HARRIS 05

CHRISTMAS & MORE LONDON

London — Diwali at Trafalgar Square London Trafalgar Square, 15 October 2017 —

Translated as ‘a row of lights’, Diwali represents a A new beginning and a victory of good over evil. It is typically marked with the adornment of earthen at The Old Vic lamps or ‘diyas’ in homes and public spaces. Where better to soak up the warmth of such a festival The Old Vic, 18 November 2017 – 20 January 2018 than amongst fellow revellers at London’s Diwali celebration in Trafalgar Square, which is hosted Nothing quite says Christmas like Charles Dickens’ by London’s ‘culture maven’ mayor Sadiq Khan? timeless tale . The family favourite, set on a cold, bitter , tells the story of , a miserable old man with no desire to celebrate. But after being London visited by ghosts of Christmas past, present and — future, Scrooge is forced to see the life he has built for himself with fresh eyes. You’re sure to Sadler’s Wells does find this tale staged all over the country come Christmas, but The Old Vic’s production, starring The Snowman Harry Potter’s Rhys Ifans as Scrooge, sprinkles the classic with a bit of thespian stardust. Peacock Theatre 23 November – 31 December 2017

Raymond Briggs’ much-loved tale of a boy and his magical encounter with a snowman is charming enough to warm even the frostiest of hearts. Back for its 20th year at the Peacock Theatre, the action of the original picture-book story comes to life in true Sadler’s Wells style. It offers audiences of all ages just the right dose of festive cheer (and with the fantastical action of dancing snowmen, skipping reindeer and even a lesser-spotted shimmying pineapple, no less!). This one’s a classic that is sure to have you spellbound. IMAGE © RAYMOND BRIGGS 06

CHRISTMAS UK

Scotland — Scottish Christmas Celebration

Perth Concert Hall, Perth, 20 December 2017 Caird Hall, Dundee, 21 December 2017 Usher Hall, , 22 December 2017 Oxfordshire / Derbyshire Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 23 December 2017 — Nothing beats Christmas in Scotland, and there A Country Christmas: is no such thing as a Scottish Christmas without carols. Christmas carol programmes don’t get Blenheim & Chatsworth any better than the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s live performance, conducted by BLENHEIM PALACE, OXFORDSHIRE the award-winning maestro Christopher Bell. 24 November 2017 – 1 January 2018 This festive concert will be performed in various locations across Scotland, so book now and CHATSWORTH HOUSE, DERBYSHIRE have your Christmas jumper at the ready. 17 November 2017 – 5 December 2017 IMAGE © RSNO

There’s something especially nostalgic and romantic about Christmas in the countryside. If you’re going rural, the standard is set by Christmas at Blenheim Palace (where the grounds take on an even more dazzling guise than usual). Discover the artfully landscaped parkland, with its festive trail of lights, singing Christmas trees and scented Fire Garden. Or venture further north to the heart of the Peak District and discover another noble residence – Chatsworth House – whose annual offers the absolute perfect place to pick up local and handmade Christmas gifts. IMAGE © BLENHEIM PALACE 07

CHRISTMAS UK

Birmingham — Christmas with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS CBSO Centre, 8 – 9 December 2017

A CHORAL CHRISTMAS Symphony Hall, 19 – 21 December 2017

No matter your singing ability, loud and proud is the only way to go when it comes to Christmas carols. Two concerts in Birmingham offer the perfect opportunity for festive belting: the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Christmas Crackers’ (a toddler-friendly singalong that’s sure to get the whole family up on their feet), and ‘A Choral Christmas’ (a performance hosted by celebrated chorus director Simon Halsey).

Manchester — A Swingin’ Christmas in Manchester

The Bridgewater Hall, 21 December 2017

Nobody can say Manchester doesn’t know how to put on a Christmas bash. Featuring big hitters like White Christmas, Let It Snow and , this holiday programme will feature Gary Williams on vocals. He will lead the blast of the big band for a swingin’ evening of festive singing in the stalls. A refreshing break from dusty organ playing, the concert puts ‘old-school cool’ back into Christmas – Manchester style. 08

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS UK

Edinburgh — Edinburgh’s Christmas, 2017

Various locations across the city 18 November 2017 – 7 January 2018

UK O come all ye faithful up to Edinburgh for the city-wide — celebration of Yuletide, complete with genre-bending performances, a Christmas market in Princes Street Lights & Markets Gardens and a neck-craning firework display. The six- week event will welcome visitors from far and wide across the UK for the fifth instalment of this festival of dazzling proportions. Wrap up in something woolly, warm up TUNNEL OF LIGHT with a whisky-spiked tipple and enjoy all the fun of ‘Auld The Forum, Norwich Reekie’. This is what Christmas is like in the movies. 16 November 2017 – 5 January 2018

ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire 1 – 3, 7 – 10, 14 – 18 December 2017

CHRISTMAS GLOW Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Surrey 30 November 2017 – 3 January 2018

Whether elegant, mesmerising or downright kitsch, it’s not Christmas until you have beheld the finest of the UK’s festive lights. Topping the list must be Norwich’s dramatic Tunnel of Light, a 45-metre-long passage lined with 50,000 tiny pulsating bulbs. For a display of nature at its most vibrant, go deep into Gloucestershire’s woods and follow the Enchanted Christmas trail, which guides you through the National Arboretum’s illuminated tree collection. Or try Wisley’s Christmas Glow installation for a more floral affair with bright, festive blooms. 09

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS UK

UK — Magical Lantern Festival

Roundhay Park, Leeds Botanical Gardens, Birmingham Chiswick House Gardens, London Philips Park, Manchester Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Glasgow 24 November 2017 – 1 January 2018

Is there a more dazzling sight than thousands of London glowing orbs, speckling the night’s sky? The Magical — Lantern Festival provides an affirmative answer, offering visitors a glittering spectacle of luminous art forms. London Lights This show augments the ancient Chinese ‘lantern tradition’ with festive hallmarks such as an ice rink, & Markets Santa’s Grotto and, of course, plenty of delicious food to tuck into. You can catch this one in several spots Regent Street, Bond Street & Sloane Square around the UK, so there’s no reason to miss out. Belgravia Markets Christmas at Kew Late November & December 2017

Charismatic London turns up the charm come Christmas time, with streams of twinkling lights bejewelling the city. Regent Street is the most iconic star-lined strip and, on neighbouring Bond Street, the watts give the carats a run for their money. But visit the traditional Christmas markets at Belgravia’s Elizabeth Street, Motcomb Street and Pimlico Road for a more understated annual celebration of all things festive, complete with carolers and roasted chestnuts. Next, head to Sloane Square and Duke of York Square where the trees burst with light. And, of course, the jewel of seasonal suburbia is surely Christmas at Kew, where visitors can get lost beneath a mile-long trail of lights. 10

CHRISTMAS BEYOND THE UK

Amsterdam — Christmas at the Concertgebouw

PHILIPPE HERREWEGHE / ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA BACH MASS IN B MINOR Paris Concertgebouw, 25 December 2017 —

Bach’s Mass in B minor is nothing short of a sacred La bohème in Paris Christian masterpiece. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will perform the choral wonder for the first OPÉRA DE PARIS time in 45 years to mark this year’s Christmas matinée Opéra Bastille, 28 November – 31 December 2017 concert. What better way to begin Christmas day than with quiet and contemplation as opposed to the usual It only seems fitting that La bohème returns to Paris cacophony of a more commercial take on noël? with an original setting as depicted in Henri Murger’s IMAGE © CONCERTGEBOUW novel (on which Giacomo Puccini based his operatic masterpiece). La bohème’s scene of Christmas in the Quartier Latin of 19th-century Paris – with the toy seller Parpignol’s fantastical parade of Christmas wares – is one of the most magical festive visions ever created. So if the incredible music isn’t enough to draw you in, perhaps the spectacular vision of Left Bank Parisian festive merriment is instead. IMAGE © BILL COOPER 11

CHRISTMAS BEYOND THE UK

New York — NY: Big Band Holidays

WYNTON MARSALIS Jazz at Lincoln Center, 13 – 17 December 2017

Like arriving home to a house full of relatives (beaming with Christmas cheer!), Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Big Band Holidays concerts will wrap you in a warm embrace. This annual tradition – running for more than a decade – welcomes jazz aficionados and partygoers alike for a programme of holiday-infused performances led by the legendary Wynton Marsalis. There is, hands down, Los Angeles no better way to bring in the festive season. — IMAGE © ROB WAYMAN Dianne Reeves – Christmas Time is Here

LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC Walt Disney Hall, 20 December 2017

Combining her signature charisma with a generous dose of festive cheer, Dianne Reeves will breathe life into her collection of classic Christmas carols. For one night only, the multiple Grammy award-winning songstress takes to the stage to mark the culmination of an epic year of worldwide touring – a reminder to audiences that she is, and continues to be, a timeless icon. If you’re in LA this Christmas, this is not a performance to be missed. IMAGE © JERRIS MADISON 12

CHANUKAH BEYOND THE UK

New York — David Broza’s ‘Not Exactly Christmas Eve’ Concert

Kaufmann Concert Hall at 92Y, 24 December 2017 Paris — Often called “Israel’s Bruce Springsteen,” charismatic singer-songwriter David Broza returns for his annual Sacha Finkelsztajn’s folk/rock/pop/flamenco-inflected holiday(ish) concert. The all-embracing troubadour (who has La Boutique Jaune shared stages with Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and others) is also a tireless advocate for 27 Rue Rosiers, 75004 peace and the ‘’ spirit. Broza is sure Metro: Saint-Paul to demonstrate how Christmas Eve ‘alternatives’ can be just as much fun as eggnog and carols. One of things that makes Chanukah so much IMAGE © ILAN BESOR fun is the abundance of delicious treats. Leave it to Paris, which boasts Europe’s largest Jewish community, to pay tribute to the gastronomy of Chanukah like no other city could. If you’re looking for the best of the best, head to Sacha Finkelsztajn’s La Boutique Jaune, nestled in Paris’ fashionable Marais district (still considered the true heart of Jewish Paris). Referred to as a “Yiddish gastronomic wonder”, with past and present patrons including Woody Allen, Sigmund Freud and Marc Chagall, this is the spot if you’re after yummy ruggelach, the crunchiest of latkes, or the best traditional in all of Europe. 13 New Year’s Eve

London: NYE Feasts

Sushisamba, Moorgate EC2N 4AY Park Chinois, Mayfair W1J 8EA Aquavit, St James’s Market SW1Y 4QQ 31 December 2017

The search for NYE celebrations in London poses an infinite stream of possibilities. If Sushisamba’s soirée is anything like last year’s ‘All White’ affair – complete with carnival-inspired dancers – then you’re in for a real treat. Or, if you’re in it for the long haul, try Park Paris: Chinois, where the new year’s festivities will carry on into the small hours. For something more low-key, Church Bells but no less glamorous, Aquavit in St James’s Square puts on a beautifully lit and beautifully presented at Notre Dame NYE supper for the ‘grown-ups’ at heart. Last year’s live jazz band added a lower octane celebratory spirit L’Atelier Maître Albert for those who wince at the thought of NYE ‘forced Bell show, Notre Dame festive’. These soirées book up fast, so act now if you 31 December 2017 want to ring in the new year in this kind of style! Paris at this time of year is a sumptuous spectacle of silver sparkles. While the tourists head to the Champs-Élysées, if you want to experience New Year’s Eve ‘à la française’ – like the locals do – use the river Seine as your beacon to guide you through the heart of the city. Dinner at the always convivial rotisserie L’Atelier Maître Albert is a guaranteed hit with locals. And to ring in the new year, do as many Parisians do: grab a bottle of champagne and head to Notre Dame where the stroke of midnight is announced with a magical cacophony of bells. 14

NEW YEAR’S EVE BEYOND THE UK

New York: Alvin Ailey Dance Spectacular (or at the Met)

New York City Center 31 December 2017

Today, choreographer Alvin Ailey’s revolutionary vision lives on, best caught at this special season finale which includes the legendary and classic tale of redemption and rebirth, Revelations. It’s a perfect piece for the new year – so count yourself lucky if you can experience the final hours of 2017 Washington, D.C.: like this. If dance isn’t your thing, there’s always the New Year’s Eve performance of Tosca at the Met Dee Dee Bridgewater’s (which will feature the always extraordinary ). You can’t go wrong either way, and you’ll be ‘A Jazz New Year’s Eve’ happy you avoided the crowds in Times Square. IMAGE © ANDREW ECCLES The Kennedy Center 31 December 2017

Culminating a very successful year, marked most notably by her new title as National Endowment for the Arts ‘Jazz Master’, Dee Dee Bridgewater will take to the stage this New Year’s Eve to showcase works from her latest album, Memphis. Dee Dee will also be joined by other celebrated live performers and big bands, and the whole splendid affair will of course end with a jazz-fuelled countdown to bring in the new year. IMAGE © COURTESY OF THE ARTIST 15

NEW YEAR’S EVE BEYOND THE UK

Toyko: ‘Yuku-toshi, Kuru-toshi’: A Japanese NYE

Shrines across Tokyo Tokyo Park Hyatt 31 December 2017

The Japanese tradition of ‘Omisoka’ marks a time for completing important tasks on the last day and night of the year to ensure a fresh start for the year ahead. Practices include ‘hatsumode’, when revellers visit a shrine, pray together for a prosperous new year, and offer food and drinks like ‘amazake’. Or, for those seeking something more indulgent – there’s nothing better than the Tokyo Park Hyatt, which offers stunning views and a cracking party. Our suggestion is to go for both: the ‘mindful’ approach of the locals with a shrine visit during the day, followed by (many glasses of) champagne at the Park Hyatt’s New York Bar to ring in the new year. Copenhagen: Party like Gatsby

The Mad Mansion, Copenhagen 31 December 2017

With the mandatory glitz, glamour, cocktails and unadulterated frivolity of New Year’s Eve, it seems perfectly fitting to go all out and celebrate like it’s 1925. Party Like Gatsby’s ‘The Mad Mansion’ – in the irresistible Danish capital – offers full immersion into Jay Gatsby’s world of excess (with circus acts, dancers and musicians in tow). Just don’t forget your feather boa. 16

HOLIDAY GUIDE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

At American Express®, we feel strongly Ella Fitzgerald that Platinum isn’t merely a Card or 9 “Sleigh Ride” membership – it’s a way of life! A Swinging Christmas

This holiday season, we’ve prepared a curated playlist to celebrate the festive period… Platinum style.

Louis Armstrong 1 “Cool ” The Decca Singles 1949-1958

John Lennon 4 “Happy (War is Over)” Gimme Some Truth Sam Smith 10 “Have Yourself a Merry 5 “Joy to the World!” ” Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, A Carnegie Hall Christmas — Catch: Wynton Marsalis in performance. Tchaikovsky Jazz at Lincoln Center, 2 “Dance of the 13 – 17 December 2017 Sugarplum Fairy” The Nutcracker Suite Stevie Wonder Mstislav Rostropovich, 6 “Someday at Christmas” Someday at Christmas

Mozart, Exsultate, 7 jubilate, K. 158a: Vince Guaraldi Trio “Alleluja” 11 “Christmas Time Kathleen Battle, is Here (Instrumental)” The Philharmonia A Charlie Brown Christmas Orchestra

Paul McCartney 8 “Wonderful Christmastime” McCartney II

Betty Carter 3 “My Favourite Things” Inside Betty Carter 17

HOLIDAY GUIDE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Vince Guaraldi Trio Elvis Presley 12 “Christmas Time 19 “Here Comes is Here (Vocal)” ” A Charlie Brown Christmas Elvis’ Christmas Album

Destiny’s Child 13 “8 Days of Christmas”

Humperdinck, 14 Hänsel und Gretel “Abendsegen (Evening Prayer)” Kathleen Battle, Frederica von Stade, The Complete Wynton Marsalis Columbia Recital Albums 17 “Winter Wonderland” A Jazzy Wonderland Dexter Gordon — 15 “The Christmas Song” Catch: Wynton Marsalis The Panther! in performance. Prince Jazz at Lincoln Center, 20 “Another J.S. Bach 13 – 17 December 2017 Lonely Christmas” 16 “Magnificat (Chorus)” I Would Die 4 U Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields Sir Neville Marriner

Otis Redding 18 “Merry Christmas Baby” Soul Christmas

Listen to this playlist

To listen, simply click on the camera icon located to the right of the Search bar in the Spotify app, and scan the code above. Or search for ‘Rafael Mason Festive Season 2017’.

HOLIDAY 2017