The Nutcracker – Russian State Ballet & Opera House

The State Ballet & Opera Orchestra of Komi, perhaps 20 players but with a splendid bass-clarinet and tuba, stretched its musical sinews to the limit for Tchaikovsky’s rich and varied score and brought Christmas in style from St Petersburg to a chilly Eastbourne. The opening party scenes were witty and fun, the battle with King Rat, almost bursting the band, was exciting. Drosselmeyer (Roman Mironov) literally stood head and shoulders over the rest of the cast introducing the regional dances. The Russian Trépak was particularly amusing, while the Grand Pas de Deux, with attendant footmen, reached a suitable romantic climax.

Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, 6 December 2014

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