I am very fond of ballet, and for me Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker is among the best ballets ever written. While not the best Nutcracker I've seen, this San Francisco production was wonderful, and made the most of the timeless story with interesting and intricate choreography(ie. the Pas De Deux) and also of the amazing music. The costumes and sets, even with an updated setting, still look absolutely beautiful and further advantaged by clear picture quality and excellent video directing. The sound just adds to the magnificence of the score, the orchestra play with passion, wit and pathos and the conducting is efficient. The dancing is done in a very elegant fashion, Clara especially is very mature in her movements while also maintaining that appealing girl-like quality in it. All in all, timeless and wonderful production of one of the best ballets I have had the pleasure of hearing or seeing. 10/10 Bethany Cox