The Nutcracker – Moscow City Ballet

Chichester’s Festival Theatre became the Winter Palace as Igor Shavruk’s excellent orchestra of soloists opened this enchanting cocktail of champagne and snowflakes. I started a smile that lasted the whole evening, except when I gasped at the dancing. The party turns of the second act, especially the pas de deux by Alevtina Lapshina and Talgat Kozhabaev, nearly had me cheering out loud, but that might have broken the spell.

Tchaikovsky’s much loved themes were splendidly animated by Victor Smirnov-Golovanov’s choreography and his very talented ensemble. What an evening of delight, and it’s coming to Brighton’s Theatre Royal in February!

Chichester Festival Theatre, 5 January 2012

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