Russian State Ballet’s Nutcracker even better than their last performance

The visit to Horsecross of the Russian State Ballet of Astrkhan for Tchaikovsky’s popular ballet ‘Nutcracker’on November 19 was even more enjoyable and successful than when they last performed this piece, writes Ian Stuart-Hunter.

Unlike their opera‘Carmen’of a few weeks ago, where young voices were a little underpowered, having young, but fully-trained dancers, added to the zest of the production.

The sets were the same, but the costumes had been refreshed to a colourful 18th century. There had also been some re-writing of the story giving it more sense and allowing two sets of principals in act two.

It was good to hear at the end, when conductor Evgenii Kirilov stepped forward to gesture into the pit, the perceptible increase in applause in appreciation of the live orchestra.

Drosselmayer, the magician who brings the Nutcracker to life for Marie, created a good, sinister atmosphere. The invading mice were good, as were the symmetrical soldiers, and a touch of humour came with a giant chunk of cheese.

Both sets of principals, Marie and Nutcracker, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her prince, were good on ballon, pointe and jetées, giving zestful and controlled performances.

There were highpoints of symmetry and movement for the corps de ballet in the‘Dance of the Snowflakes’, here 12 female dancers, and in the‘Valse des fleurs’in act two, where the eight who had no role in the character dances, were partnered by male dancers, and also the final ensemble.

The national character dances were all well taken: the Russian man and the mad semaphoring of the Chinese woman impressed particularly.

In total it was a super performance, both enjoyable and capable of furthering interest amongst the sell-out audience. Many will be looking forward to next year’s visit.