Royal Northern College of Music & Brodsky Pre-theatre Dining Review

In 1893 Sir Charles Hallé founded the Royal Manchester College of Music, merging with the Northern school of music in 1973 to create The Royal Northern College of Music we know today.

The RNCM, located on Oxford Road in Manchester cite centre, is a hidden gem, an excellent entertainment venue offering a variety of performances from various musical genres.

In addition to musical performances, the venue also boasts the beautiful Brodsky restaurant which offers diners a sophisticated and elegant dining experience.

The Brodsky Pre-theatre experience, was a real treat, manager Jose and the team did a fabulous job at looking after us.  The menu offers variety and va-va voom to their diners, with exciting foodie options followed through with a well executed delivery.

Sensational Starters included the roasted heritage tomatoes and baby mozzarella salad served with micro herbs, pesto and balsamic glaze.  Also, the delicious platter of garlic and chilli roasted vegetables, served with semi-dried tomatoes, hummus & olives, alongside Italian Seitan and vegan aioli.

Mouth-watering Mains can in the form of a generous roasted sirloin of beef, served with homemade Yorkshire puddings, a red wine Bordelaise sauce and a selection of vegetables.  Also, the yummy Potato gnocchi served with spinach, cherry tomatoes, olives and pesto, alongside garlic & herb flatbread and a rocket and parmesan salad.

Delicious Desserts, that got scoffed in record time, the super scrummy sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and crème anglaise.  Also, the delightful creamy milk chocolate mousse, topped with white chocolate cream malt balls and caramel pieces, alongside chocolate sauce.

The range of refreshments offered was extensive, including specialist IPAs and gins.

Just as impressive was the non-alcoholic options including a Cuba libra rum & coke and also a lush gin & tonic of course all minus the booze!

RNCM Manchester and Brodsky Restaurant 

I love the RNCM 2019 theme of ‘originality’, an exciting concept in itself, as sparks debative thought processes, because in this day an age can anything ever be original or are we merely building, on an extension, from what we have already heard and seen?

Alexandra Dariescu – The Nutcracker and I, was to be our performance for the evening.  Alexandra a superbly talented pianist who tours the world to delight audiences with her pianist perfection.  ‘I try to identify myself with whatever piece I am playing… The notes on the page are just the start of the journey…’ Alexandra Dariescu.

The magical, memorising and melodic 50-minute performance consisted of a pianist, ballerina, state-of-the-art animation and digital effects.

RNCM alumna Alexandra Dariescu tells the story as Clara, along with a ballerina performing to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting ballet music, including firm favourites such as Arabian Dance, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Pas de Deaux in 15 arrangements by composers such as Stepan Esipoff, Percy Grainger, Mikhail Pletnev and Gavin Sutherland.

The unique performance, like nothing I have previously seen, was a wonderful whimsical whirlwind of a journey, a 50 minute escape from the hustle and bustle of real life, that took me back to my childhood years, with fond memories of prancing around in a tutu and playful piano play in my younger years.

A delightful performance, superb pre-theatre menu and an excellent evening’s entertainment.

Also enjoyed 10% with @canalstcard too.

Thank you for reading

Melanie at Forkwardthinkingfoodinista

Published: 18-Jul-2019 (5279)