I adore the Nutcracker especially the Royal Ballets version,i think it is magical,spectacular etc,etc. I prefer it as it is as close to the way the original Nutcracker was performed all those many ,many years ago.
I don't like Mathew Bournes version i find it too dark,same goes for the new version Scottish Ballet have done of Nutcracker.With all thats going on in the world looking at the darker side of Herr Drosselmeyer,(basically portraying him as a pervert)i can do without,give me the magical atmosphere and escapism everytime.
A while ago i saw the St.Petersburg Ballet Theatre performance,which was enjoyable (even being on a small stage) was remarkably like the Royals production so there must be something in it.
Just out of curiosity...when you listen to the CD of the Nutcracker do you close your eyes and imagine the dancers dancing,do you know every bit of the music i.e if someone started the CD so far in could you say what piece it was,who would be dancing (character and person) and what happens next?? I find i do that often when i listen to it,would be nice to know if anyone else does that??

SPF, I've seen the San Francisco Ballet's "Nutcracker" many, many times, and I do envision it just as you described when I hear the music. But all that will soon change, as SFB is presenting a new production this season. I'm wishing for a particular change: a short piece of the music in the first act was deleted in the old production, and it's very jarring to me. I hope it's put back in in the new production.

I understand the new SFB Nut will have a SF theme...