Moscow City Ballet showed that The Nutcracker ballet can warm the heart at any time, despite its association with Christmas.

The fine company and orchestra milked every memorable melody and dance scene in a traditional and enchanting production.

Tchaikovsky is said to have been less than enthusiastic about his score, but the orchestra ensured his innovation of using the celesta added the usual large dose of magnetic charm as it showed as much grace as the dancers, highlighting the composer’s lovely harmonies.

The excellent corps de ballet dancing was well up to its own high expectations and that of the audience in its energy, timing and a dash of humour.

While Anna Ivanova as Clara was nimble, supple and subtle, the role of Drosselmeier gave Daniil Orlov an eagerly-taken opportunity to show a combination of sensitivity and muscularity and Sergei Saliev menaced as the Mouse King.

The silky movement of the dancers, catchy tunes and colourful costumes swept the story through China, Arabia Spain and the familiar land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The Nutcracker is seen by purists as “easy listening”. This terrific production had the bonus of being seductively easy on the eye, too.