Last Updated on March 7, 2024
It’s the first night of the Nutcracker – it must be Christmas!
Ask any balletomane what heralds the start of the festive season and the answer will always be The Nutcracker. And, in my view, there’s nowhere more special to watch The Nutcracker in London than The Royal Opera House, with its opulent red velvet and gilded auditorium and with elegant bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a pre-show or interval treat. I never tire of seeing the Christmas classic, Peter Wright’s production of Pepita’s ballet, with an evocative score from Tchaikovsky and the sumptuous sets and costumes from Julia Trevelyan Oman. It seems a perfect showcase for the Royal Ballet. Last night’s performance to a packed audience of adults and children was a glorious event, with many guests both young and old in their finery and a palpable frisson of excitement amongst those perhaps at their first-ever Nutcracker.
Just as for many young people, The Nutcracker is the first ballet they see, it’s also a ballet where there are a wealth of opportunities for young dancers. During the pandemic, the children from the White Lodge were not able to dance, but last year they returned. Over forty of them take part, as mice, toy soldiers and children at the opening party scene. It makes for a very particular kind of magic, all helped on by Gary Avis as Herr Drosselmeyer liberally scattering glitter on the stage, swishing his stunning turquoise velvet cloak and seamlessly injecting the show with wizardry. Daichi Ikarashi as his assistant was a tidy and convincing character while Alfie Napolitano as Fritz danced with all the authority of an adult.
The first act of The Nutcracker tells the story of how Clara brings the Nutcracker back to life by saving his life. It’s glorious story-telling with a Christmas party, a magic Christmas Tree and entertainment from Drosselmeyer in the form of dolls that come to life, Harlequin and Columbine, The Soldier and Vivandiere and of course, the Nutcracker himself. Then, of course, there’s the battle between the mice and the toy soldiers. Last night’s Clara, a dainty and elegant Sae Maeda, was utterly charming, blending childlike wonder with technical virtuosity. Partnered by Joseph Sissens as the Nutcracker/Hans-Peter, both dancers brought their roles to life convincingly.
By the second act, Clara and the Nutcracker are travelling to the Sugar Garden in the Kingdom of Sweets, where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. I particularly enjoyed Sissens’ mimed storytelling of how he and Clara triumphed over the Mouse King and his entourage. And, while Maeda seemed light as a feather at times, Sissens managed to blend a beguiling cheekiness with splendid lifts and fluent, athletic dancing.
Although the story itself is about Clara and Hans-Peter, the show-stopping moment in the ballet is always the grand pas de deux for the Sugar Plum Fairy (Fumi Kaneko) and her Prince (William Bracewell) which takes place in the Kingdom of the Sweets. It blends pure classicism and stately regality with romance and emotion. Parts of the choreography are almost contemporary in feel, yet there’s exquisite detail in the footwork, lifts, holds and pirouettes that exude classical perfection. All this against Tchaikovsky’s Adagio – music that always has me heading for my CD collection when I get home to hear it again. Both dancers performed impeccably, making light work of the tricky choreography all the while owning the roles with a regal stage presence.
The Nutcracker is a showcase of set dances. This year’s Arabian Dance (Melissa Hamilton and Lukas B Brænsrod) was particularly spectacular. The corps de ballet too were excellent as delicate snowflakes and later in the ‘Waltz of the Flowers’.
And, the orchestra was on form, ably conducted by Andrew Litton. Ethereal off-stage singers from the London Oratory Junior Choir and The Schola Cantorum Of the London Oratory School singing with beautiful bell-like clarity together with wonderful harp and celeste music from the pit made this a fabulous evening for those who love the score as much as the choreography.
The Nutcracker runs from 6th December 2023 to 13 January 2024 at the Royal Opera House. For those who can’t make the show in London, there’s a live cinema relay on 12th December at 7.15 pm with an Encore cinema relay on 17th December at 2 pm
Tickets: £8 – £150 For more information, and to Book, visit The Royal Opera House website where you’ll also find more about the Cinema live stream and relay.
Booking – www.roh.org.uk
Royal Opera House
Covent Garden
Bow Street,
London,
WC2E 9DD
