Review: THE NUTCRACKER, Royal Opera House

 The world can often seem so grey at the moment, so any opportunity to step into the light is most welcome. There can be few festive shows that ignite such a sense of wonder and delight as the Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker. If the festive season is all about tradition, then Peter Wright’s 1984 production, modelled on Lev Ivanov’s 1892 ballet, is exactly what any ballet lover wants to see.

Clara is given an enchanted Nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. As midnight strikes, she finds a magical adventure awaiting her and her Nutcracker where they fight the villainous Mouse King and visit the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Kingdom of Sweets.

One of the most captivating parts of Wright’s production is that the dancers are allowed to bring individuality and real personality to their characters. This is demonstrated to the full by Sae Maeda, who makes a wonderful Clara, sweet, childlike and full of anticipation. She has a touching and innocent chemistry with Joseph Sissens, who makes a strong and deft Nutcracker. Their heartfelt first-act duet is pure, yet tentatively romantic and beautifully demonstrates Clara’s first steps towards adulthood.

Principal Fumi Kaneko is captivating as the Sugar Plum Fairy, giving a display of pure magic with poise and balance and brilliant musicality in every movement. It is easy to be a little too poised and have an air of froideur in the role, but Kaneko is elegant yet warm, with particularly graceful port de bras.

William Bracewell takes the role of The Prince with vigour. His grand pas de deux with Kaneko is practically perfect and so polished that it stands out in a magnificent production. 

Gary Avis knows the role Drosselmeyer like the back of his hand, and it shows. He embraces the way that this version places the character so centrally; he is visibly invested in the fate of The Nutcracker and their reunion at the end is genuine and heartfelt. He also handles the sweeping of his robes magnificently.

There is fine work from the rest of the company with both Snowflakes and Flowers in sparkling form. Special mention must go to Arabian dancers, Melissa Hamilton and Lukas B. Brændsrød, who performed an intensely sinuous and hypnotic dance together, with limbs melting into each movement.

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is also on great form, conducted by an enthusiastic Andrew Litton. The pace seemed a little slow at first, but soon settled to reveal all the glory of Tchaikovsky’s score. The woodwinds in particular are a standout.

Julia Trevelyan Oman’s sumptuously detailed designs look as sparkling and fresh as ever. The Land of Snow is an luscious forest, the Kingdom of Sweets is a giant ornate cake and the growing Christmas tree remains simply breathtaking.

The stage looks as though it has been dusted with icing sugar and sparkles with magic in a production that so deftly connects us with the idealised Christmas’ of childhood; snow, wonder and excitement.

Even if the world seems dark, this Nutcracker will genuinely touch your heart in a way many other productions can only dream of at this time of year. 

The Nutcracker is at the Royal Opera House until 13 January 2024

You can also watch the production live in cinemas on Tuesday 12 December 2023, 7.15pm GMT
Encores from: Sunday 17 December 2023, 2pm GMT

Main photo Credit: Tristram Kenton

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