It was a wonderful experience to see Nutcracker last night, in the theatre where it was first performed in 1892.
I have very happy memories as a child of hearing this music played on a 45 EP on our first record player. In those days I had no idea it was a ballet, but I loved the music.
I was in a box last night. Around me was a proud father with his 5 year old daughter, she was transfixed for the whole night and was quietly taking it all in. Next to me was a woman with her 8 year old grandson Victor (who wanted to practice English with me: “hello”, “good evening”, “that is red”.) Victor wasn’t so impressed and was a bit restless. When we were leaving, the Babushka rang someone, presumably Victor’s parents to pick them up. I overheard her saying something like “he was sitting still some of the time”.
Going home in the number 6 bus was no problem.
The Mariinsky theatre is showint its age a little, but rather than renovating it, they have built a new theatre right next to it, with the unimaginative name “Mariinsky-2”. Nevertheless, it looks good and I might try going there as well.
ozvogel 
I too loved our record of the Nutcracker! How special to see the ballet in the theatre where it was first performed. How’s the Russian going? Are you able to say most of the things you need to say when you’re out and about? How are you going re the cold weather? CATH and I saw LA LA LAND tonight which she particularly enjoyed but the movie I saw last Week THE UNITED KINGDOM was my favourite. Did you catch up on a few movies on the way over? How did the Toadtmasters visit go in Helsinki and in St Petersburg?
The weather is no problem. In fact it is not bad, no wind and the snow falls at night. Apparently there is bad weather in the West of Europe at the moment.