News on Kennedy Center's 2005-2006 season

[Alexandra]

The Kennedy Center Web Site has posted the repertory for the Royal Ballet and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet (the mixed repertory programs for ABT and NYCB are not yet announced.)

Suzanne Farrell Ballet - (Nov. 22-27)

Balanchine's "Monumentum Pro Gesualdo / Movements for Piano and Orchestra"

Bejart's "Rite of Spring"

pas de deux from Bejart's "Romeo and Juliet"

Royal Ballet - June 20-25

In addition to "Sleeping Beauty":

Ashton's "La Valse" and "Enigma Variations"

MacMillan's "Requiem" (the Faure one)

[carbro]

Interesting (and disappointing ) that SF has chosen to present more Bejart that Balanchine next year.

Does she not realize that a good part of her audience is attracted by the opportunity to see Balanchine, specifically, lovingly staged? I'm wondering if her rep will hurt her box office.

[Juliet]

Perhaps it's a question of money or getting the rights.....

I'm sure she realizes the draw of Balanchine in this country, especially...

[Farrell Fan]

Interesting (and disappointing ) that SF has chosen to present more Bejart that Balanchine next year.

Does she not realize that a good part of her audience is attracted by the opportunity to see Balanchine, specifically, lovingly staged?  I'm wondering if her rep will hurt her box office.

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Don't forget that she's putting on seven performances of Balanchine's Don Quixote at the Kennedy Center from June 22 to 26, the first revival in over 25 years. I don't think anyone need fear that Suzanne is giving short shrift to Balanchine.

[socalgal]

I think Bejart's Rite of Spring is powerful! Would love to see it again.....

[kfw]

Interesting (and disappointing ) that SF has chosen to present more Bejart that Balanchine next year.

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Yes and no. She's going to save me a couple hundred bucks at least.

[Ari]

Remember, too, that the SFB got its start when there was little if any Balanchine being danced at the Kennedy Center. But since NYCB started having week-long seasons again last year, which have been heavily weighted towards Balanchine, things have changed. Perhaps the KC thinks that enough Balanchine is enough.

The SFB program as listed is, I'm sure, incomplete. It would make a very short program. I'll guess that they're going to add another ballet to it, let's hope it's one of Balanchine's.

As for the Royal rep, it'll be great to see Enigma Variations again -- I've only seen it once, and it struck me as the sort of ballet one needs to see several times. La Valse wouldn't have been my choice, but it's better than more MacMillan.

Is the Faure Requiem the one MacMillan made for the Stuttgart?

[Alexandra]

Is the Faure Requiem the one MacMillan made for the Stuttgart?

I'm almost positive it is, Ari. I saw it when the Stuttgart brought it back in 1977.

I would suspect something will be added to the SFB program too -- and perhaps a second program? That's not the kind of program that will entice ballet fans to come back for a second viewing, I would think. I'm curious to see Bejart's "Sacre," though. Many people, including, one hears, Mr. B himself, thought it was an interesting version. And I'm ecstatic to be able to see "Enigma" live (I know it only from a filmed version of the original-cast-save-one).

[Farrell Fan]

I can't believe Farrell would let Michael Kaiser or anyone else dictate her programming. She has always held Bejart, her "second Mr. B." in the highest regard and sought to program more of his works for her company.

[sandik]

I can't believe Farrell would let Michael Kaiser or anyone else dictate her programming. She has always held Bejart, her "second Mr. B." in the highest regard and sought to program more of his works for her company.

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I certainly don't think that either Kaiser or Farrell would characterize that relationship as dictatorial, but I would be very surprised if they did not discuss balancing the SFB programming with the rest of the Kennedy Center's season. I live out in the "other Washington" and so don't follow the permutations of the theater very closely, but if the KC is a partner in any way with SFB (rather than booking the ensemble as they might any other touring group) they would certainly have input on the programming.

[scoop]

I can't believe I'm saying this since I'm totally nuts for Balanchine, but the company IS called Suzanne Farrell Ballet, so there's a case to be made for presenting the range of choreography that influenced her. My curiosity is piqued since I don't believe I've seen SFB dance anything but Balanchine.

[Jack Reed]

I recall reading that Mr. B's comment on Bejart's Sacre was, "You can't do it, but it's the best one." I haven't seen much Bejart, but when I saw his company do it years ago, I thought I saw where Balanchine was coming from when he said that. (Of course he never saw Paul Taylor's setting.) And Monumentum/Movements! Last time she presented that, it was superb! I expect to be there. (Think again, kfw.)

As for Kaiser dictating to Farrell, she has a titled position there, her troupe is not just booked in. I think he's smart enough to want to keep her happy, not to tell her what to do.

[carbro]

Of course he never saw Paul Taylor's  setting.

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Yeah, well . . . Who else but Taylor could dream that up?

[rg]

re: macmillan's faure 'requiem' - if mem. serves he proposed this project to the royal ballet/covent garden, but the plan was vetoed on the grounds that faure's music was 'sacred' music and thus not suitable for a ballet. when it was well received in stuttgart, it was subsequently brought into the garden for the royal, or so i recall the history of this work.