A fabulous festive gift on stage

The Nutcracker at St David’s Hall, Cardiff

THE Nutcracker is the perfect festive treat.

This mostly traditional production from the Russian State Ballet of Siberia and the accompanying Russian State Ballet Orchestra features wonderful music, beautiful dancing, especially from the lead dancers, and plenty of sparkle, although the modern digital effects fall flat.

The constant movement of snow, twinkling lights or birds is distracting rather than enhancing, and better ignored in favour of focusing on the dancers.

The Nutcracker unfolds on Christmas Eve when everyone is gathering for a party. Among the gifts is the Nutcracker, which Marie is so taken with that she sneaks down after the guests have departed and the family has gone to bed, to see it. As the clock strikes midnight, the Mouse King and his army of mice appear, the Nutcracker Prince comes to life and a battle ensues.

The Mouse King subdued, the Nutcracker transforms into a handsome and sparkly prince, dancing the first of several pas de deux with Marie. Both dancers are excellent throughout, and this first dance is graceful, full of lovely pirouettes and arabesques.

There are a few shaky moments among the corps de ballet but nothing that detracts from the magic of the dancing. The Waltz of the Snowflakes captures the essence of twirling snow flurries, with a stage filled with dancers in white tutus, garlanded in fluffy white pom-poms. The dances in the second half’s celebrations are also full of impressive moments – including a series of on-the-spot turns, at least 10, from the dancer in the Russian dance section – and bright colourful costumes. Tchaikovsky’s familiar score fills St David’s Hall, with the orchestra fantastic throughout.

Like the characters on stage, this is a fairytale world the whole family would want to be transported to before Christmas morning. Claire Miller The Nutcracker is at St David’s Hall today at 2pm and 5.30pm, and tomorrow at 2pm. Visit www.stdavidshall cardiff.co.uk