Live Performance Review: Mariinsky Ballet: Cinderella (Music Director & Conductor Valery Gergiev)  (Edinburgh International Festival (E.I.F.) 2012), Saturday 01.09.2012 14:30 Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

This was undoubtedly a fine performance, with the principal ballerina of the piece and the head evil sister being of particular note. The evil sister displaying a mischievousness in her movements, and Cinders being the  embodiment of grace, poise and elegance.

The performance was in three sections. All though all were good, I preferred the middle part. It was this part that contained the most of it just being the the lead male and female. These sections were more satisfying for me as assist with enabling greater focus on the movements of the lead dancers, and not feeling a desire to flit from observing sections of at times a fleet of dancers. Though this being Cinders you know you are going to get some scenes where there are many performers on the stage. With the wicked sisters there were a couple of moments where it felt almost pantomime with their performance.

I don't feel able to find fault with the orchestra, and all in all it was a very enjoyable performance to view; though it was the quieter moments I found enchanting.

Rating: 08/10.