FATHER Christmas may indeed be adept at cramming a year’s work into just one day of the year but we should remember that his brief time of toil can only get started once the Birmingham Royal Ballet signals the official start of the Yuletide season with a suitably festive offering.

And that being the case, it could be argued that Sir Peter Wright out-ranks even Lapland’s most celebrated resident. For it is thanks to him that we have The Nutcracker, that unashamed piece of choreographic homage to everyone’s fabulous, fantasy Christmas.

Sir Peter’s production of one of the best-known classical ballets of all time maximises the magic of Tchaikovsky’s immortal music to create a living, breathing fairy tale that never once fails to entrance and delight.

Little wonder then that the audience becomes helplessly spellbound the very moment those first, so-familiar notes drift across the auditorium.

And it just goes to show that even a relentlessly cynical modern age is not immune to the story of the young girl who sneaks downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve and enters a parallel universe of toy soldiers, giant rats and snow fairies.

Rumour has it that Sir Peter did a few last-minute tweaks to the choreography. If that is the case, then we should fall to our knees in supplication and give thanks for the part he played in choreographing Momoko Hirata’s Clara.

She was an absolute delight to behold, flitting across the stage in a diaphanous little number that drifted like clouds across a moonlit sky. So dare we suggest it, nay say it – will the magical Momoko one day inherit the crown of the delectable Nao Sakuma, who most people in the know would agree turns the Sugar Plum Fairy into an art form?

Of course, Nao was the usual dream to behold, even if long-time partner Chi Cao as the Prince did appear to experience difficulty during an early lift. That surely must be a first. Don’t drop her, Chi, she’s worth more than the finest china!

Elsewhere, there were superbly spirited performances from Natasha Oughtred as the Rose Fairy, Iain Mackay as Drosselmeyer, a magician, and Tzu-Chao Chou playing the part of a particularly hyperactive, double-jointed Jack-in-the-box.

The Nutcracker is now firmly embedded in our folk consciousness, proof that the centuries-old power of myth and magic on our sensibilities remains undiminished.

For without doubt, this is an exquisitely produced piece of seasonal fare that never fails to hit the spot. And thanks to Sir Peter Wright, we’re now in the mood for the festive season… so bring it on!

The Nutcracker runs at Birmingham Hippodrome until Thursday, December 12. Not to be missed.