Globetrotter Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Initial casting is up for Program 6 Program 6 Opening Night Friday, April 03, 2009, 8pm STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Aria I: Sofiane Sylve, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba Aria II: Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith INTERMISSION WITHIN THE GOLDEN HOUR Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Viola: Paul Ehrlich Katita Waldo, Brett Bauer Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba INTERMISSION WEST SIDE STORY SUITE Choreographer: Jerome Robbins Conductor: David Briskin Riff: Damian Smith Tony: Rory Hohenstein^ Bernardo: Ruben Martin Anita: Shannon Roberts Maria: Dores Andre Rosalia: Nicole Grand Graziela: Pauli Magierek Saturday, April 04, 2009, 2pm STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Aria I: Elana Altman*, Tiit Helimets* Aria II: Katita Waldo, Ruben Martin INTERMISSION WITHIN THE GOLDEN HOUR Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Viola: Paul Ehrlich Elizabeth Miner*, Pascal Molat* Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada Dana Genshaft, Mateo Klemmayer INTERMISSION WEST SIDE STORY SUITE Choreographer: Jerome Robbins Conductor: David Briskin Riff: Rory Hohenstein^ Tony: Garen Scribner Bernardo: Pierre-Francois Vilanoba Anita: Katita Waldo Maria: Ludmila Campos Rosalia: Dana Genshaft Graziela: Pauli Magierek Saturday, April 04, 2009, 8pm STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Aria I: Sarah Van Patten*, Ivan Popov* Aria II: Vanessa Zahorian*, Davit Karapetyan* INTERMISSION WITHIN THE GOLDEN HOUR Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Viola: Paul Ehrlich Katita Waldo, Damian Smith Tina LeBlanc, Nicolas Blanc* Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba INTERMISSION WEST SIDE STORY SUITE Choreographer: Jerome Robbins Conductor: David Briskin Riff: Damian Smith Tony: Rory Hohenstein^ Bernardo: Ruben Martin Anita: Shannon Roberts Maria: Dores Andre Rosalia: Nicole Grand Graziela: Pauli Magierek Sunday, April 05, 2009, 2pm STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Aria I: Sofiane Sylve, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba Aria II: Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith INTERMISSION WITHIN THE GOLDEN HOUR Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Viola: Paul Ehrlich Elizabeth Miner, Pascal Molat Tina LeBlanc, Nicolas Blanc Dana Genshaft, Mateo Klemmayer INTERMISSION WEST SIDE STORY SUITE Choreographer: Jerome Robbins Conductor: David Briskin Riff: Damian Smith Tony: Rory Hohenstein^ Bernardo: Davit Karapetyan Anita: Lorena Feijoo Maria: Dores Andre Rosalia: Danielle Santos Graziela: Julianne Kepley Tuesday, April 07, 2009, 8pm STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO Choreographer: George Balanchine Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Aria I: Sofiane Sylve, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba Aria II: Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith INTERMISSION WITHIN THE GOLDEN HOUR Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Conductor: David Briskin Violin: Roy Malan Viola: Paul Ehrlich Katita Waldo, Brett Bauer Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba INTERMISSION WEST SIDE STORY SUITE Choreographer: Jerome Robbins Conductor: David Briskin Riff: Damian Smith Tony: Rory Hohenstein^ Bernardo: Ruben Martin Anita: Shannon Roberts Maria: Dores Andre Rosalia: Nicole Grand Graziela: Julianne Kepley Link to comment
balletdad Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 How nice that Rory is back for Westside Story. He is such a fun and dynamic dancer. Does anyone know what he has been up to and/or where he is dancing since he left SFB? I found nothing through a Google search. Link to comment
PeggyR Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Saturday, April 4th, matinee Even though I only stayed for the first two works on Saturday's program, I still had a fully satisfying afternoon of ballet (skipped WSSS, which I didn't care for last season). Stravinsky Violin Concerto My only basis for judging Stravinsky Violin Concerto is the version danced on the Choreography by Balanchine DVD, so I'd be interested to hear from more experienced Balanchine watchers if my slightly negative reaction to SFB's dancing is valid. Of course, the technical hurdles posed no challenges to the performers, but I thought there were some telling stylistic differences, mainly in the overall attack (or lack thereof), and with the way some of the female dancers held their arms and hands -- curved with the cupped hand, rather than with straight elbows and the palm facing downward. Statuesque Elana Altman, despite being one of the 'curved arm' offenders, was athletic and flexible in the first aria (her 'walking backbends' were extraordinary: she didn't really do a backbend; she just folded herself in half backwards, refolded herself to the front, etc.). I'd love to see her in the "…in the middle, somewhat elevated" final pdd. This is the second time I've seen Katita Waldo in Balanchine (last season it was Divertimento #15) and for some reason, even though she danced the second aria well, to my eye she just isn't quite suited to this choreographer's work. The male ensemble did some very fine unison dancing during their moments in the spotlight, although during the heel-first walks some put the heel down first, some didn't, which had the effect of making them all look sloppy. Within the Golden Hour Christopher Wheeldon's 'Within the Golden Hour' looked even better this year than last, although I've still got some issues with Basso's music: I can't imagine listening to it as a stand-alone work. In the charming first pdd with its numerous echoes of social dances, Elizabeth Miner was adorable without descending into cute. Dana Genshaft's eloquent feet were shown to good advantage in the exquisite slow-motion second pdd. And Maria Kochetkova was lovely in the more conventional choreography of the third pdd set to Vivaldi (I don't think the juxtaposition does Basso's music any favors). A word should be said for the atmospheric lighting design by James F. Ingalls, which enhanced the mood without ever obscuring the dancers. Link to comment
Helene Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Many thanks for the review, PeggyR. I would have loved to have seen Altman in "Stravinsky Violin Concerto". She does have an amazing back: in the Spanish in "Swan Lake", her backbends were knockouts. Except when von Aroldingen danced her original role, at the NYCB performances that I saw, the male principals more often made a bigger impression on me than the women. It's interesting that you write about Altman and Waldo, whom I loved in the mid-late 90's, but whose performances I have found to be more and more tepid over the last decade, but not their partners. Link to comment
PeggyR Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Except when von Aroldingen danced her original role, at the NYCB performances that I saw, the male principals more often made a bigger impression on me than the women. It's interesting that you write about Altman and Waldo, whom I loved in the mid-late 90's, but whose performances I have found to be more and more tepid over the last decade, but not their partners. Maybe it was just my mood that day, but to be honest, none of the men made much impression in either of the ballets (except, as I noted, the male ensemble in the Stravinsky -- for the most part they were really superb). In SVC, for me Altman so dominated the piece that everyone else kind of faded into the background. To be fair, she didn't overwhelm her partner, Tiit Helimets, who did dance well, just not memorably. Link to comment
Memo Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 How nice that Rory is back for Westside Story. He is such a fun and dynamic dancer. Does anyone know what he has been up to and/or where he is dancing since he left SFB? I found nothing through a Google search. I think I saw pics of him dancing with Morphesis (Christopher Weeldons company) if anyone else has more information I would love to know. Link to comment
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