helgi tomasson

All of San Francisco’s mercurial chill was forgotten on Feb. 25 as crowds gathered at the War Memorial Opera House to witness "Giselle," one of classical ballet’s most infamous romantic works.

Oozing with an intangible, irresistible glamor, the San Francisco Ballet’s “Swan Lake” took opulence as an opportunity.

The immersive three piece set boasted an eclectic and dazzling bill that spanned genre, style and theme, keeping audience members — as well as the dancers — on their toes.

The grand spectacle of “The Nutcracker” — of the glittering costumes, lavish production design, impossibly difficult yet effortlessly executed movements — kindles a rare sense of pathos. One that lingers long after the intermission and settles in on the drive along the Bay Bridge.