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A Magical Night at the Ballet

Over three nights they performed Giselle, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker accompanied by the 30-piece Russian State Symphony Orchestra of Astrakhan. The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky, is a magical Christmas story that tells of Marie (although it was Clara in the original story) and her Christmas gift of a wooden Nutcracker doll. As her family and friends celebrate Christmas Eve, a magician arrives and brings some toys to life. This is such a fun ballet to watch. It’s vibrant and lively with sumptuous costumes and delightful characters: tin soldiers, a Harlequin, a hoard of large grey mice, an even larger Mouse King, and all the dancers play their roles with elegance and excellence. The Magician also brings the Nutcracker to life, but after being injured fighting the Mouse King he awakes as a handsome prince. Love blossoms between Marie and her prince, and act one ends with them dancing amid a swirl of snowflakes under a star-studded sky. In act 2 Marie and the Prince find the kingdom of their dreams. A sparkling ball is underway hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and Prince Coqueluche. Their guests are dolls in national costume: Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, Russian and French, each performing their traditional dance. Then comes the most spectacular solo dances by the Sugar Plum Fairy (Marina Nomyrova) and her Prince. However, the Magician weaves his magic and all returns to normal. Marie is left holding her Nutcracker doll knowing it had all been a beautiful dream. The principal dancers were all superb creating pure magic that you remember long after you’ve left the theatre.

The company continue on their tour of the UK, performing daily until early December. For more details visit: www.russian-state-ballet.co.uk

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