oberon Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 (edited) The NYCB website has next week's casting...I'm sure it will be posted here soon. Among the delights: Bouder in BALLO, Sylve in HONGROIS, Robert Tewsley as a guest in MUSAGETE & TODO BUENOS AIRES, Rachel Rutherford in Darci's role in STABAT MATER...Bocca's guest appearances are confirmed (TODO). And, interestingly, Wendy's partner in POLYPHONIA is Marcovici rather than Jock. Edited December 30, 2004 by oberon Link to comment
Dale Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 Program and Casting Subject to Change * First time in role + Guest Artist # SAB Student JANUARY 4-9, 2005 TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4 AT 7:30PM Divertimento No. 15: *FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, *BORREE, BOUDER, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS Intermission The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, J. STAFFORD, *RIGGINS, RAMASAR, TINSLEY, *ORZA, BOAL, *ANSANELLI, *HANNA, EVANS, REICHLEN [McDill] Intermission Cortège Hongrois: *SYLVE, ASKEGARD, ABERGEL, HANSON, RINGER, FAYETTE WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5 AT 8:00PM Ballo della Regina: *BOUDER, MILLEPIED, *HYLTIN, EDGE, *SCHELLER, *RIGGINS Intermission Stabat Mater: *RUTHERFORD, WEESE, BORREE, *J. ANGLE, MARTINS, BOAL [burton, Walker] Intermission Cortège Hongrois: SYLVE, ASKEGARD, ABERGEL, HANSON, RINGER, FAYETTE THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6 AT 8:00PM Divertimento No. 15: FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, BORREE, BOUDER, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS Intermission Polyphonia: WHELAN, *WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, *MARCOVICI, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters] Intermission Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, *FOWLER, *LIANG, HANNA [Chelton] FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7 AT 8:00PM Ballo della Regina: BOUDER, MILLEPIED, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS Intermission Stabat Mater: RUTHERFORD, WEESE, BORREE, J. ANGLE, MARTINS, BOAL [burton, Walker] Intermission I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI SATURDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 8 AT 2:00PM Ballo della Regina: TBA, TBA, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS Intermission The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, J. STAFFORD, RIGGINS, RAMASAR, TINSLEY, ORZA, BOAL, ANSANELLI, HANNA, EVANS, REICHLEN [McDill] Intermission Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton] SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8 AT 8:00PM The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, *VEYETTE, *KEENAN, *HALL, HANSON, FOWLER, *SUOZZI, SYLVE, ASKEGARD, *la COUR, REICHLEN [McDill] Intermission Todo Buenos Aires: WHELAN, KISTLER, *BOCCA+, EVANS, NEAL, MARTINS, TEWSLEY+ [McDill] Intermission I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI SUNDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 9 AT 3:00PM [Kaplow] Square Dance: BORREE, HÜBBE Intermission Polyphonia: WHELAN, WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, MARCOVICI, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters] Intermission Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton] Link to comment
Helene Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 Borree is not listed as a debuer? debuttante? for Square Dance. Has anyone seen her perform in this role? If so, how long ago was it, and what was your impression? What about Hübbe? How did he dance the great solo? Link to comment
carbro Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 A number of us were surprised by YB's Square Dance last spring. --> Old Posts Here <-- Link to comment
Helene Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 A number of us were surprised by YB's Square Dance last spring.--> Old Posts Here <-- Oh, dear. Was that Borree's debut in the role, or did she dance it in her solist or early principal days? Link to comment
Drew Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 I saw Borree dance the ballerina role in Square Dance several years ago--when she was already a principal. At that time, she was not, in my opinion, giving masterful or memorable performances in the ballet and, when I compared her in my mind to Margaret Tracy (not Merrill Ashley, because...well...what would be the point) didn't even think she was getting through all the steps. I know that's harsh--like others I have enjoyed her performances in several roles, Duo Concertante especially--but I continue to be baffled to the point of irritation by the way she is cast. Link to comment
charlieloki Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 I saw Borree dance the ballerina role in Square Dance several years ago--when she was already a principal. At that time, she was not, in my opinion, giving masterful or memorable performances in the ballet and, when I compared her in my mind to Margaret Tracy (not Merrill Ashley, because...well...what would be the point) didn't even think she was getting through all the steps.I know that's harsh--like others I have enjoyed her performances in several roles, Duo Concertante especially--but I continue to be baffled to the point of irritation by the way she is cast. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ms borree is not at all a bravura dancer, and square dance is simply beyond her even from the fourth ring, the stress, strain and lack of real energy is quite apparent in a company of this caliber, this masterpiece of choreography is sorely diminished by her presence. i have seen her perform it so many times -- it's almost as if her casting is a punishment-- for her and for the audience. is this a harsh assessment? yes -- but after decades of attendance at nycb, some of us develop an almost proprietary interest in certain pieces, and suffer when they are done badly. Link to comment
Helene Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 That is really too bad. I've seen Borree dance beautifully in the right role -- she's my favorite in Duo Concertante -- but it sounds as if she's not cast to advantage to either herself or the ballets. I remember that Square Dance is a ballet in which Arlene Croce thought Stephanie Saland had been miscast as well, which was my impression of Vanessa Zahorian last year at San Francisco Ballet. I was lucky to have seen Nichols and Hlinka once each, and Ashley and Margaret Tracey a handful of times each, and a glorious performance by Tina LeBlanc during SFB's Balanchine programs this past season. (The ballet will be reprised on SFB's Mixed Rep Program 4, 9-20 March.) Link to comment
oberon Posted December 31, 2004 Author Share Posted December 31, 2004 Happy New Year, hockeyfan!! I've seen Borree in SQUARE DANCE several times, including a couple of really good ones...I prefer her in DUO, GATHERING, ANDANTINO, STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO, SERENADE...I've also liked her in BAROCCO...a couple seasons ago she did the Voices of Spring role in VIENNA WALTZES and just went whirling away, free as a bird. She reminds me a bit of Kay Mazzo. I like her wistful quality. I think there are probably some roles that she would be nice in that remain the property of other ballerinas. She might be a good nymph in SCOTCH SYMPHONY, for example. I've always liked her partnership with Nikolaj Hubbe, even in Peter's less-than-brilliant THEM TWOS... Link to comment
Helene Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Happy New Year, hockeyfan!!I've seen Borree in SQUARE DANCE several times, including a couple of really good ones...I prefer her in DUO, GATHERING, ANDANTINO, STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO, SERENADE...I've also liked her in BAROCCO...a couple seasons ago she did the Voices of Spring role in VIENNA WALTZES and just went whirling away, free as a bird. She reminds me a bit of Kay Mazzo. I like her wistful quality. I think there are probably some roles that she would be nice in that remain the property of other ballerinas. She might be a good nymph in SCOTCH SYMPHONY, for example. I've always liked her partnership with Nikolaj Hubbe, even in Peter's less-than-brilliant THEM TWOS... Happy New Year to you too! I had forgotten about Borree's lovely performances in Dances at a Gathering. Thanks for the reminder! Link to comment
tempusfugit Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Alas, Borree has neither the technique nor the personality to get through Square Dance even adequately. Having suffered through her atrocious accommodations and omissions of steps in this role more than once, I must say I agree with Robert Gottlieb that wild horses would not drag me to see it again.... Link to comment
GeorgeB fan Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 I unfortunately I also have to add my displeasure at seeing Borree cast in Square Dance. I was goint to buy tickets for that performance, but after seeing the casting I say no. I think in the correct roles Yvonne Borree is a very good dancer, but this role just seem to be too out of her reach. Seeing that Whelan and Weese are in Polyphonia, two dancers I think would be very good in Square Dance, Peter Martins should have given Sofiane Sylve a try at the role. I think she has what it takes to dance the role beautifully. Link to comment
tortis Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Peter Martins had all of the dancers before his eyes when he made the casting decision for Square Dance. Have faith! He's a very serious man I believe in the choices he makes as much as I do Borree. She may have a fair performance now and then but she's a virtuouso, a very great artist with enormous talent and long experience. The only thing you can say about her is that she's little but her body is very unusual and beautiful, with a long torso yet much better proportioned than Kay Mazzo was. In Rudolf Bing's book '5000 Nights at the Opera,' he had this to say about critics: (This is the Gottlieb-Greskovic-Acocella troika...) "Psychologically, the position of the critic is very difficult. He cannot exist until somebody does something, which is an unhappy, frustrating set of circumstances. Only rarely does anyone set out to be a critic as he might set out to be a painter or a composer. In nine out of ten cases, becoming a critic is the result of frustration, a failure to make a career as a violinist or a pianist or a composer. Human nature being as beastly as it is, a critic makes a name for himself with bad reviews-to make a name with good reviews a critic has to be a giant with great enthusiasm and sense of mission, and there are always very few giants." Peter Martins is a giant and he does have a mission. Link to comment
carbro Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Quoting Bing:"Only rarely does anyone set out to be a critic as he might set out to be a painter or a composer. In nine out of ten cases, becoming a critic is the result of frustration, a failure to make a career as a violinist or a pianist or a composer." <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I can't say that I know the motivation of most of today's critics, but to me, there's a bitterness in Bing's accusation that shoots off the page -- or screen. When I describe something/someone in less than laudatory terms, it is not because I never made it as a ballerina/choreographer/what have you, but that I know a good Agon (e.g.) when I see one, know that it is possible, and was disappointed that the one I saw was not. Bad performances are part of the game, and they are not always the dancers' fault. Lack of rehearsal time is not the dancers' fault, miscasting is not the dancers' fault, bad conducting is not the dancers' fault.Must one be a practitioner of an art form -- failed or successful -- to love it? No! And with that love (and more and more exposure) come high ideals and expectations. When those expectations are met or exceeded, how wonderful it is! It quickens the heart and nourishes the soul -- for perhaps weeks afterwards. So a bad performance can feel like a betrayal, to overpersonalize it. Link to comment
tempusfugit Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 I'm afraid that a virtuoso is the LAST thing Borree is, will be, or ever has been. She is not even a passable technician any more, and next to Whelan, Weese, Sylve, Bouder, et al, she is appalling. Her inadequate, tension-filled dancing is not only disgraceful in Balanchine, it is nervewracking, perturbing, and infuriating for the audience. There can be no good reason for putting a dancer into roles in which she fails miserably, publicly, repeatedly, and conspicuously. As she does in every difficult part she performs, Borree simplifies, omits, and smears LARGE amounts of the steps in Square Dance; this is not debatable. Watch the film of Patricia Wilde if you want to be aware of the degradations visited upon this beautiful role. Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 [moderator beanie on] Y'know, it's actually not breaking the rules to have any of these opinions, or to state them, (if you can't say here, THAT PERFORMANCE SUCKED! where can you say it?) but before this heads south, let's try to remember that this often gets back to the people being discussed. [moderator beanie off] Link to comment
E Johnson Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 She might be a good nymph in SCOTCH SYMPHONY, for example. I've always liked her partnership with Nikolaj Hubbe, even in Peter's less-than-brilliant THEM TWOS... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> One of Borree's worst performaces that I saw was in Scotch, with, I think, Askegard. She completely failed to do the second of the big horizontal jumps, obviously afraid she'd fall or be dropped. It was like seeing a show horse refuse a jump. I have liked her in some things -- Duo Concertant and even Coppelia - but in others it is just painful to watch her. Link to comment
paulofnyc Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 With all of the bad things about Borree that were just written, Let me put in my two cents that I like her dancing. Link to comment
Helene Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 To Paul of NYC: there are many things about Borree's performances from the early 90's (before I moved to the Left Coast) that I liked very much, too. I'm just not sure she's best cast in the "blockbuster" roles, because I find her dancing softer and her stage persona more humble than many other dancers. Hey, folks, when I asked my original question, it was a sad attempt to shed some light on casting that seemed against type, and I didn't mean for this thread to go south. Please help me out here -- what on this first week are people dying to see, or have they seen? Or should we just skip to week two? Link to comment
Dale Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 I'm putting the updated casting here too: Program and Casting Subject to Change * First time in role + Guest Artist # SAB Student JANUARY 4-9, 2005 TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4 AT 7:30PM Divertimento No. 15: *FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, RUTHERFORD, BOUDER, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS Intermission The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, J. STAFFORD, *RIGGINS, RAMASAR, TINSLEY, *ORZA, BOAL, *ANSANELLI, *HANNA, EVANS, REICHLEN [McDill] Intermission Cortège Hongrois: *SYLVE, ASKEGARD, ABERGEL, HANSON, RINGER, FAYETTE WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5 AT 8:00PM Ballo della Regina: *BOUDER, MILLEPIED, *HYLTIN, EDGE, *SCHELLER, *RIGGINS Intermission Stabat Mater: *RUTHERFORD, WEESE, *RINGER, *J. ANGLE, MARTINS, BOAL [burton, Walker] Intermission Cortège Hongrois: SYLVE, ASKEGARD, ABERGEL, HANSON, RINGER, FAYETTE THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6 AT 8:00PM Divertimento No. 15: FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, RUTHERFORD, BOUDER, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS Intermission Polyphonia: WHELAN, *WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, *MARCOVICI, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters] Intermission Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, *FOWLER, *LIANG, HANNA [Chelton] FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7 AT 8:00PM Ballo della Regina: BOUDER, MILLEPIED, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS Intermission Stabat Mater: RUTHERFORD, WEESE, RINGER, J. ANGLE, MARTINS, BOAL [burton, Walker] Intermission I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI SATURDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 8 AT 2:00PM Ballo della Regina: BOUDER, *DE LUZ, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS Intermission The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, J. STAFFORD, RIGGINS, RAMASAR, TINSLEY, ORZA, BOAL, ANSANELLI, HANNA, EVANS, REICHLEN [McDill] Intermission Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton] SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8 AT 8:00PM The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, *VEYETTE, *KEENAN, *HALL, HANSON, FOWLER, *SUOZZI, SYLVE, ASKEGARD, *la COUR, REICHLEN [McDill] Intermission Todo Buenos Aires: WHELAN, KISTLER, *BOCCA+, EVANS, NEAL, MARTINS, TEWSLEY+ [McDill] Intermission I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI SUNDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 9 AT 3:00PM [Kaplow] Square Dance: *FAIRCHILD, HÜBBE Intermission Polyphonia: WHELAN, WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, MARCOVICI, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters] Intermission Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton] Link to comment
lampwick Posted January 4, 2005 Share Posted January 4, 2005 Well, I've only been going to see NYCB for a little over a year now so I'm really looking forward to seeing Square Dance for the first time in person. I've only seen it on tape. I've been pleased with everything I've seen by Chris Wheeldon, so am looking forward to Polyphonia (another ballet I've never seen) I'm also happy it's on a Sunday, and Musagète is last. I have no desire to see that ballet again. I can make my 5:00 ballet class instead. I'm always expectng to dislike Yvonne Bouree's dancing because what I read about her, but actually have never been disappointed with her performances. She IS more modest onstage than the average NYCB principal, but I think she has a very pretty quality. It's just different from the City Ballet style, but I don't really mind some variety in the dancers. I sit in the statosphere though...so maybe I just can't see the nervousness or know the steps well enough to notice missing ones. Link to comment
Helene Posted January 4, 2005 Share Posted January 4, 2005 Well, I've only been going to see NYCB for a little over a year now so I'm really looking forward to seeing Square Dance for the first time in person. I've only seen it on tape. I hope you have a great time! Square Dance is one of my "do-over" ballets -- I always want it to start again, as soon as it is over. Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted January 4, 2005 Share Posted January 4, 2005 I've liked Borree most in small-cast works - the nicest performances I saw out of her last year were in Duo Concertant and Zakouski. Her qualities don't get overwhelmed. Yeah, I'd leave at second intermission on those days, too, but that's just me. Ah yes. Ballets you want to see again the moment they're done. Square Dance, yup. Also 4Ts. Les Noces and Scenes de Ballets, too. Link to comment
tempusfugit Posted January 4, 2005 Share Posted January 4, 2005 Actually, it seems quite clear from the astounding avalanche of Borree support and chiding remarks here that it's NOT okay in this instance to say "this performance SUCKED", or even "this ballerina is incapable of fulfilling the duties or meeting the demands of the roles in which she appears". In my opinion, performers appearing in public are fair game for responses and feedback both positive and negative, and occasional harsh evaluations of the performers' PERFORMANCES-- not their private lives, their personalities, or any aspect other than their dancing, for example, under the aegis of NYCB on the State Theater stage-- are neither inappropriate nor out of place. Nor was a discussion of Borree off topic in a thread which not only discussed in its title casting which (at the time) included her, but which had direct inquiries later on about her dancing. Whatever the myriad failings of critics may be, neither they nor the audience should be chastened for observing what is in their view the sad truth because it might make the performer feel bad Link to comment
Alexandra Posted January 4, 2005 Share Posted January 4, 2005 A gentle reminder about board policy. Tempusfugit, there's a difference between "observing what is in their view the sad truth" and attacking someone, be it another poster or a dancer. Please chill Everything you said could have been said politely and without anger (as you almost always do, and your posts are greatly appreciated!). The dancers do read this board. Not only dancers we write about, but young dancers. We don't want to scare them out of the field! Link to comment
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