Tchaikovsky’s legendary Nutcracker ballet delighted Moscow audiences on Tuesday at the Bolshoi Theater.

It is traditionally played during the Christmas season and this year was no exception despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Before entering the theater, everyone who attended the venue had to present a vaccination certificate or submit a negative PCR test result.

The theater has limited its audience capacity to 70 percent. Tickets start at 66 euros and they are slim to the ground.

Tchaikovsky’s bubbly and effervescent score contains a multitude of famous melodies, and the production is a visual delight from start to finish.

“I am delighted. I have dreamed of visiting this show for 10 years,” said spectator Anna Kashpor.

Another theater lover, Maxim Agafonov, added: “I think this show is for both children and adults, because everyone dreams of stepping into a fairy tale where good beats evil. “

140 years of production

The timeless story of Clara, which is taken on a fairytale adventure by her prince, made its Russian debut in 1892 in St. Petersburg and 70 years later was performed at the Bolshoi for the first time.

The ballet plot was adapted from ETA Hoffmann’s 1816 short story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”.