YOUR review of the Chisinau National Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker (January 11) was absolutely spot on.

The performance was one of the best I have ever seen, my congratulations to the dancers and the orchestra.

Didina Grosu as the Nutcracker Doll was excellent.

Ballerina Evely Hart encapsulated the Nutcracker's ultimate mysterious allure in a simple but cogent way: "You wake up and you're given a toy, you dream, you have this wonderful dream and then you wake up again: just what have you seen?"

Colin Henson,

Moorcroft Road,

Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 11:46 Thursday, January 16, 2003