50 replies to this topic

[atm711]

4th ring row B cost $89 per ticket plus fees, so it cost me close to $200 for 2 tick

Is that an inflated price for the 'ocean thing'? I paid $55.00 for a ticket in row E 13 of the second ring for Jewels---plus fees which raised the price to $64. Frankly, I am only going this season because I will be meeting some friends at this particular performance.....unless TDF comes up with discounts.

[ViolinConcerto]

4th ring row B cost $89 per ticket plus fees, so it cost me close to $200 for 2 tick

Is that an inflated price for the 'ocean thing'? I paid $55.00 for a ticket in row E 13 of the second ring for Jewels---plus fees which raised the price to $64. Frankly, I am only going this season because I will be meeting some friends at this particular performance.....unless TDF comes up with discounts.

I paid $29 for 2nd ring, first row, slightly to the side -- seats number 36 and 34 on two successive nights. This is nuts.

[California]

Especially in view of the controversial pricing and empty sections/seats this season, I was particularly amused by a fund-raising e-mail I just got from NYCB. I don't see anything about this on their web site yet. Are they trying to recruit NYCB supporters to start their own fund-raisers for the company? Is this like a volunteer development staff? (See especially the second paragraph, below):

Please join NYCB’s Principal Flutist Paul Lustig Dunkel as he and several members of NYCB’s orchestra participate in a very special chamber music program entitled Fluteree on Monday October 17. Every $100 benefit ticket purchased for this concert will go to supporting NYCB’s critical education programs. Chamber Music ProgramFlutereeMonday, October 17, 8:00 PMChrist & St. Stephen's Church - 120 West 69th St. (B'way/Columbus) Click here to purchase tickets and visit www.paullustigdunkel.com for more information. The concert is also part of a the Company’s new grassroots fundraising initiative, NYCB Turn Out. (More details below.) Sincerely, Member Services

What is NYCB Turn Out? NYCB Turn Out is a brand new initiative launched by New York City Ballet to empower ballet and arts lovers across the globe to help raise funds for the Company. NYCB Turn Out participants take the lead in developing any kind of fundraiser to benefit New York City Ballet. Paul decided to hold a concert for his fundraiser, but other ideas include charity runs, parties, dance-offs, bar nights—any idea is a great one! So get inventive and become a part of a new movement—NYCB Turn Out. To find out more, please contact turnout@nycballet.com

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[vipa]

This is hilarious. Maybe if I organize a fundraiser, I'll get a tutorial in their ticketing practices. The web site hasn't worked (at least for me) people are helpful when I call, but it is time consuming. I wish they had the seat picking thing that the Met web site has. Anyway I'm off to the discount Atrium this weekend to try to get tickets to Jewels.

[vipa]

Saw Jewels tonight with Atrium discount tickets. I was in 4th ring row C. Lots of SAB teenagers in that area. They must have been given comps. It was such fun to see their enthusiasm.

Jewels - Isn't ballet a wonderful art form!

Emeralds had an amazing cast. Tiler Peck, Ramasar, Mearns, La Cour. You couldn't ask for anything more. So musical and full from everyone. Huxley was excellent in the pas de trois with such clean and clear beats, jumps & tours. He was not bothered by the quick tempo. The woman, Dronova & Laracey were quite sparkling in the trois.

Rubies is a great role for Reichlen. Her attack and wit are amazing. Those legs cut through the air with incredible force. She is without mannerisms and so becomes the ballet. Bouder & Garcia were sharp in their pas de deux. I found him a little sluggish in his solo work. Maybe sluggish is not the right word. He was just a little after the music sometimes & he didn't make shapes and lines with his body quickly enough. Bouder as usual is a wonder at etching shapes in space quickly.

Diamonds - Frankly IMO this should be out of Whelan's rep. She just doesn't have the amplitude to fill the music or the choreography. Everything was underpowered. She still has a lot to offer in some pieces (I saw her in La Sonnambula this season), but a role like Diamonds requires big extensions, big arabesques, off center elements - none of which were present. I don't know if this was ever a good role for her, but it isn't now. Tyler Angle is a wonderful partner, not just in partnering but in presentation.

Despite my complaints about various performers I had a wonderful evening at the ballet. Jewels is a masterpiece. Just imagine the idea of Mr. B's to do a full length abstract ballet to 3 different composers and make it work. Part of the fun of Jewels is watching the corps. I almost wish I could see it without the principal dancers!

[bobbi]

Thank you, Vipa, for your post. I left before Diamonds so I could catch the Yankees (even though I'm a Mets fan). I had a feeling that Wendy (who has done this role spectacularly in the past) might not be on top of her game. And I am looking forward to Mearns' Diamonds this coming Tuesday. I agree that the Emeralds was given one of the best performances ever. This ballet demands two female leads with superb musicality and phrasing -- both of which Tiler and Sara have in spades. Those of you on this board know I am a huge Ashley B. fan but I really wish Patricia McBride would come back and coach this role. IMHO, it's nothing like it used to be.

[ViolinConcerto]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Jerome Robbins program and awards. The performance of "2 and 3 Part Inventions" was again very beautiful and got a very warm response. "In Memory of....." to me has so much emotional weight and memories (of Suzanne Farrell, Joseph Duell and Adam Luders -- and Mr. Balanchine, as some people believe it is in tribute to him) that I really can't judge it, I end up nearly in tears each time.

THEN CAME THE AWARDS!!!

Chita Rivera was announced and came to the podium. She spoke briefly of her experience with "Jerry" while photos of her in "West Side Story" were projected on a large screen. She then introduced the awardees in reverse order of admission to the Company.

They formed a long line across the stage. There were photos and I hear some film clips shown on a big screen above them, but I was glued to my binoculars, as I wanted to watch each face as closely as possible. Each dancer walked to the center of the stage, took a lovely, wide-armed curtsey, (in a way that summed up - to me - her style and personality) and joined the line, alternating between stage left and stage right. There was a bit of irony when Suzanne Farrell and Gelsey Kirkland ended up next to each other, but they greeted each other warmly.

When Jenifer Ringer came out in the orchid dress of "Anita," -- dressed for the performance -- Chita said, "I recognize that dress!" and got a great, warm laugh. A friend later said to me that it might have been a bit intimidating for Jenifer to perform with Chita there -- but you'd never know it if that were so.

The applause and cheers for each dancer were heart-warming, and seemed to get louder and longer as we went back in time, all the way to Jillana and Yvonne Mounsey. Tanaquil LeClerq, Nora Kaye and Melissa Hayden were honored posthumously.....

The awardees and other dancers were on the Promenade of The-Theater-Formerly-Known-as-the-New-York-State-Theater during the intermissions, and greeted each other with love and warmth, chatting at a mile a minute to catch up on each others' lives if they hadn't seen each other. After the performance (which ended with a good, but not great performance of "West Side Story Suite" -- as I felt the orchestra was not where it should have been, and did cause some discomfort), many of the awardees hung out on the promenade and lobby, and under the portico, due to the rain. They were very accessible and friendly to those of us who remember and adored them for so many years. That was the best part!!!!

[LiLing]

I was also at the Robbins Award evening. (Janet Reed was included in the group honored posthumously).
I found it so moving to see these wonderful artists acknowledged, especially those who have been off the stage for many many years. To know they are remembered by fans and their contributions appreciated. They each wrote a paragraph about their experiences and memories of working with Robbins which were in an insert in the program. Allegra Kent's contribution was especially fey and witty, just like her dancing!
Kudos and thank you to the Jerome Robbins Foundation, NYCB, and all who contributed to making this such an exciting and memorable event.

[abatt]

I saw tonight's Jewels. Happy to report that ticket sales were strong and the audience was very large, particularly for a Tuesday evening. Bouder was lovely in Emeralds, and Jared Angle was a gallant partner. Emeralds is one of Ringer's best roles. An excellent performance. I didn't really care for the lead Rubies cast tonight. Veyette was making his debut, and he looks like he could use some more practice. It was a very careful and studied performance. A Rubies performance without joy and fun robs the ballet of its spirit. I had never seen Hyltin in the lead of Rubies. (She debuted last season, I think.) Maybe it was because of Veyette, but her performance also looked too careful. Reichlin was sexy and witty as the tall girl. And then came the sublime Diamonds. This was Mearns' only performance of Diamonds for the season. J. Staford was replaced by Chuck Askegard as Mearns' partner. It was pure, radiant joy beaming from Mearns to Askegard and vice versa. It was an extra special performance. They seemed to be in a private reverie that we in the audience had the privilege of seeing. I've seen Mearns do this role before, but tonight's performance of the central pas was on an even higher level.

[cobweb]

I wonder if anyone has any info about programming for tomorrow's Askegard farewell. "Diamonds" is listed on the calendar, and has been listed, I believe, since the Farewell was first announced. But I just took a look at "Running Times" on the website, and "Diamonds" is not included there. I have the opportunity to go tomorrow, but it means major hassles for my schedule. I'd do it because I would really love to see Askegard and Kowroski do "Diamonds" one last time, but if it's off the program for whatever reason I don't know if I'm going to make it. If anyone has info on the programming, please PM me, thanks.

[Peg]

I wonder if anyone has any info about programming for tomorrow's Askegard farewell. "Diamonds" is listed on the calendar, and has been listed, I believe, since the Farewell was first announced. But I just took a look at "Running Times" on the website, and "Diamonds" is not included there. I have the opportunity to go tomorrow, but it means major hassles for my schedule. I'd do it because I would really love to see Askegard and Kowroski do "Diamonds" one last time, but if it's off the program for whatever reason I don't know if I'm going to make it. If anyone has info on the programming, please PM me, thanks.

I was at today's matinee and Diamonds with Kowrowski and Askegard is posted as first in tomorrow's program.

[Helene]

Thank you, Peg, and welcome to Ballet Alert!

[Helene]

I've broken off the question of whether NYCB is treading water into a new topic:

http://balletalert.i...996#entry292996

[Krystin]

NYCB has added two new videos for the 2012 winter season.

Ocean's Kingdom with Sara Mearns, Peter Martins and Paul McCartney: http://www.youtube.c...u/0/Xn-gvd6GCks

Allegro Brillante with Megan Fairchild and Andrew Veyette: http://www.youtube.c...u/1/S0xBZEbN2IY

I thought the videos were nicely done, especially the Allegro Brillante video. I think something that could bring ballet into the mainstream is humanizing dancers and showing just how difficult performing ballet is. Showing that Veyette and Fairchild are a real life couple that have to deal with the normal problem of creating a healthy working relationship with your spouse is something many people can relate to. Also, when Veyette discussed the difficulty of landing in fourth from a jump and not being able to bounce up to your next step was insightful. It's a moment that may look incredibly easy to an audience member, but him speaking about it and showing it from that telling camera angle will probably make me notice it when I see it performed. It also made me want to go see the ballet

[Natalia]

That's nice but....How about DVDs of the full ballets, commercially-available to the public around the world?