Island Shangri-La and Friends Raised the Curtain on an Enchanting Christmas Evening

The hotel invited Hong Kong Ballet’s Nutcracker to take the stage inside its elegant Library and Atrium this November

Island Shangri-La raised the curtain on Christmas festivities this month with an exclusive evening with an Enchanted Wonders theme, inviting guests and VIPs on a magical journey with The Nutcracker.

At a cocktail reception in the hotel’s newly refreshed Library on the 39th floor, guests were greeted by talented performers from the Hong Kong Ballet. Drinks and canapés were served in a festive setting featuring green marble pillars and crystal chandeliers, overlooking sweeping views of Hong Kong. After each guest posed for photos fit to feature on a Christmas card, inside the Atrium the ballerinas and magical characters performed excerpts from the time-honoured festive favourite The Nutcracker.

During the banquet, VIPs such as Janet Ma, Yolanda Choy-Tang and Nicola Cheung feasted on a menu of edible Christmas wreaths including bone marrow candles, foie gras pine cones and smoked salmon layer cake with caviar, as well as turkey meatballs, Impossible wellington and mini lobster rolls.

Photo 1 of 20 Hong Kong Ballet Dancers: Gouta Seki, Nana Sakai (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 2 of 20 Christopher Sin and Belinda Yan with Hong Kong Ballet Dancers Gouta Seki (left) and Nana Sakai (right) (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 3 of 20 Joy Lam and Jonathan Young with Hong Kong Ballet Dancers Gouta Seki (left) and Nana Sakai (right) (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 4 of 20 Himmy Wong and Mite Chan with Hong Kong Ballet Dancers Wang Qingxin (left) and Jeremy Chan (right) (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 5 of 20 Belinda Yan, Ruby Fung, Christopher Sin, Bruce Tong, Chris Tong with Hong Kong Ballet Dancer Jeremy Chan (3rd on right) (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 6 of 20 Janet Ma (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 7 of 20 Yolanda Choy Tang (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 8 of 20 Janice Leung, Antonia Da Cruz, Alexa Bui (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 9 of 20 Ruby Fung (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 10 of 20 Chichi, Ceci Ngan (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 11 of 20 Aiko Yeung, Bennett Ng (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 12 of 20 Tommy Wong (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 13 of 20 The Nutcracker performance by Hong Kong Ballet Dancer (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 14 of 20 The Nutcracker performance by Hong Kong Ballet Dancer (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 15 of 20 The Nutcracker performance by Hong Kong Ballet Dancers (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 16 of 20 Winter Wonderland by Uwe Opocensky (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 17 of 20 Laura Southwood, Angie Ng, Nicola Cheung, Uwe Opocensky (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 18 of 20 (from left, anti-clockwise) Elaine Kwok, Twee Wu, Emma Lauren, Christopher Sin, Belinda Yan, Vincent Sahuc, Julien-Loic Garin, Himmy Wong, Mite Chan, Ceci Ngan, Chichi, Kieran Ho (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 19 of 20 (from left, anti-clockwise) Janet Ma, Yolanda Choy Tang, Christina Lu, Laura Southwood, Joy Lam, Jonathan Young, Jeremy Young, Nicola Cheung, Alan Lui, Christine Chan, Angie Ng (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Photo 20 of 20 Christopher Chia, Karen Kang, Sarah Vee, Jeferson Barboza de Oliveira (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

Hong Kong Ballet Dancers: Gouta Seki, Nana Sakai (Photo: Courtesy of Island Shangri-La)

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Chef Uwe Opocensky delivered a surprise Winter Wonderland culinary show. The Atrium’s speakeasy show kitchen and movable cooking counters offered guests a front-row view of his culinary process, as he prepared an intimate feast of festive dishes inspired by the ballet. From gingerbread houses to edible Christmas trees, Chef Uwe crafted a miniature dessert village, covered in a flurry of icing sugar snow. Guests were finally gifted with a festive advent calendar, filled with handmade candies and gifts, to continue the Shangri-La countdown at home.