The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker, both as a story and a ballet, is one of my favourites and always has been as a child. This is not my favourite Nutcracker, I do much prefer the Kirov, Royal Ballet, San Francissco and Baryschnikov performances. However, it is still good. visually, especially in the first act, it could have done with more magic. The second act is much more theatrical and colourful, but there are one too many times in the performances where the sets are rather drab and the lighting too dark. There are times also when the stage is too overcrowded especially in the scene with the mice, and I also didn't care for the powdered wigs of the Snow Fairies. However, Tchaikovsky's music is just gorgeous and done justice by the sparkling orchestral playing and brisk conducting. The choreography is generally very good, the Waltz, Dance of the Snow Fairies and especially the Pas De Deux show a lot of artistic flair, and the Cossack dance is a lot of fun. Only the scene with the mice comes across as rather muddled. There are some neat stage ideas like the Nutcracker before and when he turns into the Prince. The dancing is just wonderful, for what she may lack in authentic youthfulness, Yekaterina Maximova more than makes up for it by dancing like an angel. Vladimir Vasilev is everything the Nutcracker/Prince ought to be, masculine, strong and very handsome. The Pas De Deux is exquisite. Vladimir Levashev is a commanding Drosselmeyer, and Sergei Radchenko does his best to make the Mouse King as sinister as possible. Overall, a good production but could have been much more with better production values,a better choreographed Mice scene, and those wigs have to go. As well as some rather distant sound at times. However, the choreography in general, a more colourful second act, musical values and dancing more than make up for things. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox