Leigh Witchel Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 The burning question: Will Ashley Bouder ever finally come out of her shell? This wallflower, this dormouse. . .who has to be forced onstage in Stars and Stripes. So timid. So shy. So. . . HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! *whew* I knew I wouldn't be able to keep that up. Carry on, please. Link to comment
Juliet Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Among the women dancing it now, she owns it. I think she is superb in it-------- As she dances more, one can see the development/maturation--her Aurora a few weeks ago was much better than in 2004 (and I thought it very, very good then)-----but on a Melissa Hayden tribute night, I am delighted that she really uncorked it! Brava! Link to comment
Michael Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Stars was indeed good last night -- unusually well rehearsed for a first performance: Ulbricht and the young men in the third regiment. Also Sterling Hyltin was very strong leading the first. It struck me also, if I'm not mistaken, that Andrew Veyette partnered Bouder at her workshop performance of this years ago -- that it's a reprise of that for both of them. Link to comment
AmandaNYC Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 It struck me also, if I'm not mistaken, that Andrew Veyette partnered Bouder at her workshop performance of this years ago -- that it's a reprise of that for both of them. It was 2000 SAB workshop night, indeed. Veyette and Bouder and Ulbricht all danced these roles at the workshop. It really shows how well the teachers choose the roles, considering the talent and abilities of the dancers. Even if they don't even quite live up to it then. Back in 2000, I thought Veyette did a fine job with the steps, but was too serious -- just blank, really-- as far as getting the humor. Last night, he has having a great time-- it's good to know he can smile! As much as I adore Bouder and Ulbricht in those roles, Veyette was the revelation to me, because he has come so far That men's regiment still gets me every time. I get tears (And, it's not from patrioticism). It's just Balanchine genius at work. -amanda Link to comment
cargill Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Last night was, for me, one of the best nights I have seen in a very long time. The corps looked great, in both Square Dance and especially Stars. The men's regiment was just incredible, so precise. and Bouder looked like she was having a great time. Veyette has wonderful footwork, and it was so good to see the little steps done so cleanly. I was wondering about Stars as "Essential" Balanchine, but it certainly was last night. Mary Link to comment
sz Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I *loved* the ladies of Liebeslieder Waltzer (Brahms) last night. Especially loved the chemistry of Miranda Weese with Jared Angle as the dark couple. Just breathtaking, was Darci Kistler (all champagne), Kyra Nichols (a robust wine) and to a lesser extent Wendy Whelan who seemed not quite there until the "broken foot"/ soul searching pas de deux that seems to bring out all the best in Wendy's modern, femininely fragile style. That part of Wendy's performance was astonishingly moving. Not a dry eye among my friends. Nicholai Hubbe as Wendy's partner throughout was so dashingly handsome and romantic, but could have toned down his wild side just a little to be more noble, old world, other world... But overall this was a fine, fine performance -- so fascinating as always to watch the many different ways Balanchine created his elegantly beautiful themes on the social waltz, and how the dancers express within them. Square Dance (Vivaldi/Corelli) which opened the program introduced nearly a fully brand new cast. While I very much enjoyed watching the dress rehearsal of the corps...., I thought Megan Fairchild and Marcovici were a poorly suited principal pair, individually and together. Fairchild was competent but flat and Marcovici was all over the place, too wild, except for his solo which seemed uncomfortable for him, still an acceptably interesting interpretation. The conductor, Mr. Briskin, was out of his mind by the last movement of Square Dance.... I have never heard it done faster.... Actually, from the second movement on, the tempi was too fast except for the very start of the men's section which suddenly hit the brakes (why??) for a bar or two in the music. Was Briskin sipping something at that point?!! Very strange conducting. Would like to have seen Ashley Bouder's speedy demon in Square Dance.... Fairchild was ok, but I was more happily distracted by the new beauties of the corps. Stars and Stripes (Sousa) was also conducted by Briskin at a super fast tempi for the majority, and the ballet seemed under rehearsed primarily for the tall girls section (nearly an all new cast). I find the music almost annoying, but Mr. B's wonderful choreography makes it delightful fun. There were a few times when even Bouder, as Star's Liberty Bell, was chasing the too fast tempi instead of riding on top, which caught me by surprise as she seems most comfortable in the faster movements. There was definitely no lack of power and spit fire and camp with Bouder!! Some of that I very much enjoyed, but I also kept hearing Balanchine's words describing the grand pas as a straight "classical pas de deux" first.... then a sprinkling of camp and fun. Last night's, for me, was too much camp and hard selling, playing to the audience, and not enough great style. But that's my taste.... I do like Bouder in this role, she doesn't hold anything back, and technically she is brilliant. I just wish she would shade her "ballerina" more. Andrew Veyette as Bouder's partner was good, but not thrilling. He seemed stronger technically but too much still on the safe side for this part. Danny Ulbright however was, as always, amazing; his style is bright, young and friendly, and technically he's without comparison...a big WOW. As the leader of the male regiment, he was fantastic, but Danny really ought to be dancing next to Bouder. One of the most beautifully dear parts of the evening for me was listening to Jacques D'Amboise pay an all heart-filled tribute to Melissa Hayden who recently passed away. The evening (all Balanchine) was dedicated to Melissa. I only saw her dance in her later years and her retiring performance, but Jacques' delightful stories showed everyone how deeply much he loved his partner, a woman of such great strength, daring and flair. Link to comment
vipa Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 [of his mind by the fourth movement of Square Dance.... I have never heard it conducted faster.... Stars and Stripes was also done at a super fast tempi for the majority, and the ballet seemed under rehearsed for the female corps, or maybe they were just a little too tired to give it their all.... Bouder was all power and spit fire and camp. Some of that I very much enjoyed, but I also kept hearing Balanchine's words describing the grand pas as a straight "classical pas de deux" first.... then a sprinkling of camp and fun. Funny I thought the corps of S & S looked well rehearsed particularly for a 1st performance. I agree about Bouder. I enjoy her power and exuberance but wish she would tone down the camp. Ulbricht and Sterling Hytlin were wonderful in their roles. In Square Dance I found Fairchild lacking in attack until the last movement which was so crazily fast that she had to have attack. Liebeslieder was a wonderful performance Of course the Melissa Haydn remembrances made it a particularly special evening. Link to comment
sz Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 And last night (2/1/07)... An overall much improved performance from everyone. Thank you Mr. Briskin for the danceable tempi -- the entire evening!!! Liebeslieder was wonderful, done so fully and emotionally with a last performance together from this fine group of dancers. As if I didn't already have tears in my eyes.... Nilas gave Kyra a tiny, gentle push forward at the curtain bows to give her a special farewell bow moment... It was done so quickly, discretly, without the other dancers noticing.... such a sweet, personal gesture from Kyra's partner. Was it Kyra's last Liebeslider? Seemed that way... I'm not sure if Kyra will dance her part again in the Spring, but I'll always remember this very special performance with these especially beautiful four couples. Link to comment
Juliet Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 I missed Square Dance........ Liebeslieder was as good as I have ever seen it, and what a beautifully nuanced performance from the vocalists.....everyone sensed that it was a very special farewell....... Miranda just barely conquered the tears when they were sitting listening to the final song and Kyra will always leave her special scent in this drawing room after she leaves it.....I was thinking about how she must have felt when she put on that dress one more time......all the history in those costumes....(they are not the original dresses, but she has has a lot of history with that silk...) Stars was a good rousing shake after the emotion of Liebeslieder, and was a splendid performance by Ashley(as good as I've seen her do it) and Andy Veyette also had some fun with his role, which was delightful to see! To take nothing away from their performances, the evening was centered around that moonlit ballroom filled with memories. Quite a night. Link to comment
carbro Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 I was also there Thursday. A special word for the corps men in Stars who were just spectacularly perfect! The formations were perfect, the unison was perfect, and the guys were dancing with great spirit. Megan Fairchild was delicious in Square Dance. The feet have improved but still need work. The little changements on pointe with the swaying hips made me giggle -- so cute, but emphatically not cutesy. Sebastien Marcovici is miscast in this work, having the weight of a modern dancer, looking sluggish where where breezy is called for. He did bring an interesting sculptural quality to his solo. Favorite Bouder moment in Stars: the adagio, when Veyette is supporting her a la seconde, and you can see her waiting, waiting, waiting for the musical cue to release his hand while thinking, "I'm so solid, can't wait to take this balance!" Then, she did! Link to comment
sz Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Today's matinee.... 2/3/07 was full of wonderful surprises, ending on the happiest note, for me, all week. First on the program, Square Dance, this time with the leads danced by Abi Stafford and Nicholai Hubbe. A big bravi (again!) to both of them. Big, meaty movers! So good to see the steps danced so fully. Abi looked as though she's never been happier especially when dancing with the ever charming, handsome, sexy(!) Nicholai. His solo was one of the big surprises of the matinee performed better than I've seen it done in years. Thank you and a huge bravo! Ditto the Stars and Stripes leads. I knew I'd like Sofiane Sylve a lot, I always have, but she's got to be dancing somewhere else (Dutch National?) because she's not doing very much this season at NYCB... yet Sylve's in better shape than I have ever seen her!!! Where do I begin.... Ok, the entrance to the grand pas... The female usually runs with high energy to the center of stage and jumps (in asemble). Well, Sylve ran a little with lots of exuberance, then jumped into a huge, high flying asemble that covered half the stage to center as she set up the pas. Oh, she certainly had my admiring attention at hello.... Then the first difficult balance that begins the pas de deux... in arabesque. The female usually holds it a bit, then takes her time stretching into the penchee with the support of her partner, before moving onto the rest of the pas. Not Sylve.... She held the balance in arabesque endlessly it seemed, and gorgeously, then finally touched contact with her partner for a second into the penchee (only because she had to, to move the pas forward....)...This was just the beginning of wonderful surprises to come from Sylve... She pulled one rabbit after another out of her hat today! All her jumps were huge, her lines beautifully long, full and gorgeous movements and classical, turned out, grand in style from beginning to end. I've never seen an a la seconde that looked the same (as beautiful) from the frontside as from the backside view while promenading before the balance!!! When she stood at the side of the stage, watching the corps dance, she didn't need to lean on the wall, she stood and flirted with sexy control to her partner, to her audience and the nearby dancers, all the while seeming to say, you're my fabulous team, go team!!! She wasn't resting. She was a proud leader with plenty of winks and encouragement for her partner Chuck Askegard. Oh, and Sylve's turns!! My gosh. Can you say big, controlled triples adding a huge fan kick to the front all the while staying on pointe!! I don't think I've ever seen anyone, even Sylve, do that in Stars before. Just a fabulous, exciting surprise from Sylve with plenty of sexy fun, without making it heavy handed. Sylve's best Stars to date without a doubt. Btw, heard there's a video clip on the Dutch National website showing Sylve in their Nutcracker.... Hey, she can dance any where she wants, as long as she comes to NYCB now and again! (Quoting a friend), NYCB would be lost without her womanly, sexy, technically bold style! BRAVA!!! I couldn't watch today's Liebeslieder with the nearly all new cast, many of whom I don't think ought to be dancing this ballet.... What happened to Tyler Angle?!! He was so perfect in this last year. And why can't they put the obviously perfect for a part like this, Scheller, in Liebeslieder??!! She's dancing so little since her big soloist promotion.... I do hope she's learning many new roles that we'll enjoy soon enough.... Well, I'm off, now inspired by Stars to join my friends for an all-American dinner celebration! Link to comment
Old Fashioned Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I couldn't watch today's Liebeslieder with the nearly all new cast, many of whom I don't think ought to be dancing this ballet.... Can you elaborate? I was there today and thought it was a solid, lovely performance. I had mixed feelings about a couple dancers, but for the most part it was enjoyable. Link to comment
drb Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 .... Hey, she can dance any where she wants, as long as she comes to NYCB now and again! NYCB would be lost without her womanly, sexy, technically bold style! BRAVA!!! ... In the casting listed so far Sofiane Sylve is not scheduled to dance her great created roles in Slice to Sharp and Russian Seasons. By the way, the Dutch National site no longer lists her as a member, rather one of their Guest Principals. Charles Askegard and Marcelo Gomes are also GP's, with Gomes promised for the run of Makarova's Bayadere which begins in mid February. Maybe that is why La Sylve will be missing... So while endorsing everything in your review of her, especially the last sentence quoted, I sure don't like the penultimate one. Sigh.... Link to comment
carbro Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Sylve and Gomes danced together twice in last year's YAGP galas -- in a modern piece and in Tchaikovsky Pas. They made (as one would expect) quite a stunning twosome in each. I'm imagining them as Nikiya and Solor and wondering . . . Hey, Leigh! Do you think you can find cheap fares to Amsterdam??? Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 In the casting listed so far Sofiane Sylve is not scheduled to dance her great created roles in Slice to Sharp and Russian Seasons. By the way, the Dutch National site no longer lists her as a member, rather one of their Guest Principals. Charles Askegard and Marcelo Gomes are also GP's, with Gomes promised for the run of Makarova's Bayadere which begins in mid February. Maybe that is why La Sylve will be missing... According to the DNB site, Sylve and Gomes will be dancing in Bayadère on February 23, 25, & 27, so it's safe to say she won't be back in New York until March. www.het-nationale-ballet.nl Link to comment
sz Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 .... Hey, she can dance any where she wants, as long as she comes to NYCB now and again! (Quoting a friend), NYCB would be lost without her womanly, sexy, technically bold style! BRAVA!!! ... In the casting listed so far Sofiane Sylve is not scheduled to dance her great created roles in Slice to Sharp and Russian Seasons. So while endorsing everything in your review of her, especially the last sentence quoted, I sure don't like the penultimate one. Sigh.... I'd rather watch Bayadere with Sylve and Gomes than Slice to Sharp and Russian Seasons any day! Those Diamond Project ballets were two of the best newly created, but they are not "great" ballets. Not sure what you meant by "penultimate".... Sylve is, I think, one if not the only overall best dancer in the world today. She would be a dream in the glamorous, romantic Liebeslieder if she wanted to, or the elegant, boldly beautiful Sugar Plum, or the highly technical, modern edge Sanguine in 4T's, and then turn around and give the most fabulous, technically difficult and sexy, flirty, campy, Stars and Stripes. She could also, if she wanted to, flash her long limbed, fast and brilliant technique in Ballo or give you the glam, endless lines ballerina of another world in Diamonds (she's already done that role at DNB) or Firebird or Sym in C's adagio. Slice to Sharp and Russian Seasons are but tiny appetizers compared to great (esp Balanchine) ballets. I can't say that about any other female at NYCB right now... With Nichols retiring, Kistler soon, and Whelan well on her way.... who else at NYCB's current roster could fill the ballets I just mentioned (and more) the way Sylve can/could? And also dance Bayadere (I have no doubt) with such grand, classical ballerina beauty and excellence?!! Sorry, nobody I can think of esp at NYCB. But I think I'll be traveling to Amsterdam this February too!!! Link to comment
Dale Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I can't say that about any other female at NYCB right now... With Nichols retiring, Kistler soon, and Whelan well on her way.... who else at NYCB's current roster could fill the ballets I just mentioned (and more) the way Sylve can/could? And also dance Bayadere (I have no doubt) with such grand, classical ballerina beauty and excellence?!!Sorry, nobody I can think of esp at NYCB. sz, I agree with you. I think SAB produces them but they don't stay: Korbes, Meunier, Lorenzo. Interesting, all three are Latina, dancing on a big, lush scale, and (to put it delicately) are not petite. I was just the other day organizing the programs from last year and looking at the casts for Divert. #15. I thought back to when it used to be cast tall and with dancers in their prime, with Ashley, Nichols, Kistler, Saland, Fugate. It's been mentioned on the board elsewhere, but nycb is looking more Danish in the respect to smaller, youth-tempered type of women. Link to comment
Michael Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 The problem is that the situation with the principal women is critical right now at NYCB. Sylve is de facto a guest star. You are right sz, she is the best in all those roles. But she's dancing this winter about once a week or less, about the amount that a Vishneva does at ABT in the Spring. Bouder can't dance everything. She's the other world class woman in her prime. Behind them you've got Whelan and Nichols doing all the Mozartianas; Whelan half of the Piano Concertos. And behind them: Megan Fairchild dancing Square Dance? She's miscast and makes Abi Stafford look major, expansive, musical by comparison (take nothing away from Abi though -- a most talented girl but not one to carry a company evening). Yvonne Borree -- lucky to get through Duo Concertante with a round of applause; Sterling Hyltin -- young, talented -- major talent even -- but raw, not ready, don't push her too hard. Jenny Somogyi -- since the Achilles Tendon not the most physical dancer, not one for Piano Concerto ... Tiler Peck -- Just turned 18, needs a lot of styling, enough said; Better hope Janie Taylor recovers soon. Ana Sophia Scheller is ready and needs to dance more, she's not raw, she's fnished, and should be cast. Where is Jennifer Ringer in the Tutu roles these days, who knows? One really doesn't know where this is going but it's a most difficult situation and it's the story of this winter. Link to comment
sz Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Michael, Totally agree with nearly everything you've written. Bouder is the only major female dancer behind Sylve at NYCB who is in her bounty, but hopefully not yet in her artistic prime.... I think Bouder is still developing... at least I hope so.... Gosh though, I can't even imagine what a tremendously heavy load it would be for Bouder to carry should Sylve ever leave NYCB entirely.... And it wasn't that long ago when everyone was complaining about the lack of strong, great men at NYCB........ versus ABT's.... Seems to me NYCB has serious problems there too. Askegard was no match for Sylve in Stars yesterday. And Veyette was only a little better as a match for Bouder. I keep hoping Sylve will bring some fabulous European dancers to NYC! Link to comment
Old Fashioned Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Yvonne Borree -- lucky to get through Duo Concertante with a round of applause. She was fine in that, but I saw her the other night in Stravinsky Violin Concerto and one could see the quiver in her fingertips without looking through binoculars. She also had a pretty big slip toward the end, which I wouldn't have minded so much if I knew it didn't come from nerves. Link to comment
drb Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Back to Sofiane Sylve, I find Alexei Ratmansky's evaluation, made in his Russian Seasons Time Out interview last June, rings true: Sofiane is not only a technician, she is an artist....The music suggests the character. I wanted them to be personalities. With Sofiane, it works and it seems like it’s what she does best—big, dramatic, moving across the stage. She strikes me as our most similar dancer to his Bolshoi superstar, Masha Alexandrova. Playing the matching game further: Bouder with Osipova. I do not agree that NYCB is short on female talent, even with the outrageous losses of Ansanelli and Korbes. But this season the company has taken the easy way out, casting the Balanchine masterworks with dancers who've danced them for (many) years. I'd have preferred it if second casts, at least, would have featured more debuts. Of course (in some cases) there would have been protests at not seeing some old favorites... You've got to watch the lesser works and secondary Balanchine roles to see the blooming greatness. Link to comment
Kathleen O'Connell Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I do not agree that NYCB is short on female talent, even with the outrageous losses of Ansanelli and Korbus. But this season the company has taken the easy way out, casting the Balanchine masterworks with dancers who've danced them for (many) years. I'd have preferred it if second casts, at least, would have featured more debuts. Of course (in some cases) there would have been protests at not seeing some old favorites... You've got to watch the lesser works and secondary Balanchine roles to see the blooming greatness. Interesting. It must be a quirk of scheduling, but so far this season I think the only ballets I've seen with long-established casts are Liebslieder and Mozartiana. In almost every other case there have been many, many debuts, and even the corps looks new. It really feels like the odometer is rolling over ... I do agree that NYCB has talent in the ranks. Some of the debuts have been quite successful -- Bar in both Sleeping Beaurty (Lilac Fairy) and Agon, for example. She's got plenty of talent and glamour to spare, and I think there are quite a few roles in the rep she could shine in. Link to comment
drb Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Going over the first three weeks of rep casting (as posted on BT) of major Balanchine ballets where one might reasonably consider there to be one female role which seems relatively the major one (Agon, Square, Stars, Serenade, Sym 3, Mozartiana, Tchai PC2, Violin), I counted 29 performances, for which there was a total of one debut, Sofiane Sylve in a pair of Tchai PC2's. Of course there have been more in other roles and ballets... Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share Posted February 5, 2007 I'm in the minority, but I'm not sold on Sylve. I've liked her in several things, but she's not yet a dancer I look for in the schedule. I would have gone to PC No. 2 to see Weese (what's up with not casting her in that??) or Bouder in a debut, but I wasn't motivated to see Sylve's debut. I felt like I knew what it would look like even before I attended. She's strong and she's clean and of all the women the best equipped to do the after-Petipa that's sneaking into the repertory little by little, but I don't connect with her and I find her work in a lot of the Balanchine to be too even toned. Go figure. Link to comment
sz Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 ....but I wasn't motivated to see Sylve's debut. I felt like I knew what it would look like even before I attended. She's strong and she's clean and of all the women the best equipped to do the after-Petipa that's sneaking into the repertory little by little, but I don't connect with her and I find her work in a lot of the Balanchine to be too even toned. Well, Sylve's debut in TP2 was to quote another critic, "torpedoed through." It was brilliantly exciting... And you also missed an amazing Stars by Sylve. Even though Bouder isn't my favorite, and I can predict her basic type of performances too, I went to see her Stars, and I would have gone to see Bouder's debut in TP2 as well.... She's brilliantly exciting in her own way. The point is/was that NYCB would be very much lacking in exciting performances without these two dynamos, whichever dancer is your preference. And without Sylve at NYCB, there would be none of that tall-woman, modern yet classically strong beauty-ballerina. Link to comment
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