Two Days Of Magical Ballet The Nutcracker & Swan Lake
![Classical Ballet]()
Classical Ballet
On Sunday, 12th January, at the Grand Opera House, York, we all lost ourselves in the enchanting fairytale written by E.T.A. Hoffman, of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, a delightful post-Christmas treat for all the family presented by Mergaliyev Classical Ballet.
Since its debut in Russia in 1892, the ballet has continued to captivate audiences.
Set on Christmas Eve, Clara, a young girl, is presented with a special gift of a wooden nutcracker by her godfather, toy maker Dr Drosselmeyer, which magically comes to life.
The ordinary became extraordinary as Clara fell asleep in the living room after midnight. A growing Christmas tree, giant mice, and the menacing Mouse King created an atmosphere of suspense. My young granddaughter particularly enjoyed the comic moments when a cheeky mouse made off with an enormous triangle of tasty cheese—a thoughtful touch to counter the menacing moments for the very young members of the audience.
Life-sized toy soldiers, led by the gallant Nutcracker, came to Clara’s defence. In a fierce battle, Clara bravely defended the Nutcracker, and he emerged victorious, transformed into a handsome prince. He and Clara then embarked on a dreamy journey to a snowy kingdom where the magic continued.
My granddaughter and I, along with the packed audience, were totally captivated by the wonderfully graceful dancing, colourful set, and costumes, all accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece of a composition being given its tremendous orchestral reign by the outstanding full orchestra.
There was a wonderful variety of dancing styles from around the globe in honour of Clara in Act 2, from the short, most entertaining tea dance from China to the amazing Eastern promise from Arabia. All danced to thank Clara for saving their prince.
Clara was then transformed into the Sugar Plum Fairy, and her dance was an absolute joy to experience—such grace and poise, not to mention the beautiful, white, sparkling costume, complemented by Tchaikovsky’s superb music (the
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy has always been a favourite of mine) and atmospheric lighting. The dreamy, majestic pas de deux with her Nutcracker Prince was the icing on the cake.
All too soon, the curtain fell, but not before the principal dancers received their well-deserved applause.
A delightful story brought beautifully to life by Mergaliyev Classical Ballet, founded in 2023 and quickly becoming a leader in the dance world.
![Mergaliyev Classical Ballet]()
Mergaliyev Classical Ballet
Swan Lake is arguably the world’s most popular ballet, a timeless tale of love and betrayal as Prince Siegfried falls in love with Odette, Queen of the Swans.
What a treat it was to lose myself in the magic of this classical ballet with a full orchestra on Monday, 13th January, this time in the company of my eight-year-old grandson, having thoroughly enjoyed Mergaliyev’s stunning production of
The Nutcracker with his young sister the day before.
How fortunate are we in York that Mergaliyev Classical Ballet had chosen to include the beautiful Grand Opera House, York, in their short UK tour? There wasn’t a spare seat in the theatre, and the air buzzed with anticipation as the orchestra began Tchaikovsky’s now most familiar classical score; the curtain rose and revealed a dazzling display of opulence as Prince Siegfried’s coming of age was celebrated. The feisty, funny Jester was a big hit with my grandson, and we both loved Marek Bobosik’s flamboyant portrayal of the dastardly Rothbart.
Nilay Tahiroglu was superb in her role as Odette, the Queen of the Swan-Maidens; her dancing utterly breathtaking, taking us on a ‘visceral journey through the highs and lows of emotion.’ Her characterisation was skilful and most convincing, so she was able to portray the contrasting characters of innocent Odette and scheming Odile with ease.
In his role as Prince Siegfried, Cristo Vivancos excelled, delivering a performance filled with passion, power, and precision—poetry in action.
Odette’s fellow swan maidens gave their all and could suddenly switch from a strong pounding of feet on stage boards in a dance number to feather-light movements, all beautifully synchronised to the magnificent music with precision timing. Their beauty and grace filled the stage, and their exceptional choreography created an unforgettable ballet experience that left you breathless and yearning for more. Stunning, sparkling white costumes in sumptuous, atmospheric settings all added to the magic created.
Despite the nearly three-hour duration, I was concerned that my grandson's attention might stray. However, he captivated me with the story's unfolding themes of love, betrayal, and forgiveness, conveyed not through words but through expressive dance and gesture. What a fabulous introduction to ballet, seeing the iconic Swan Lake come to life on stage!
A highlight for both of us was when Siegfried finally emerged victorious after a fierce battle with Rothbart, breaking the malevolent spell that had ensnared Odette. We definitely approved of the happy-ever-after ending!
Before the curtain came down for the final time, the principal performers received their well-deserved applause with reverence, which had a style similar to the ballet just performed: magical.