51 replies to this topic

[miliosr]

Again, please reread what Amour actually wrote: No new [my emphasis] star dancers are being cultivated.

Yes, there are promising soloists/corps members.  But it's a stretch seeing most/all of them as future star dancers (especially on the men's side.)  The pipeline just seems tapped out at the moment.  Either the artistic director made poor assessments of talent or he's doing a poor job of developing talent -- take your pick.

(A counter-argument would be that stars are born and not made.  In which case, McKenzie deserves little or no credit for Gomes, Hallberg, Murphy, Stearns and others.)

[Jayne]

I see zero evidence of Sylvie Guillem developing people from school through principal status.  Particularly men.  Also, considering that the 3 act story ballets earn 85% of ABT's ticket income, I don't think Ms. Guillem is a good fit because she likes risky modern choreo that doesn't pay the bills (at least when she's not performing in it).

[miliosr]

Jayne, on 08 July 2011 - 09:26 AM, said:

I see zero evidence of Sylvie Guillem developing people from school through principal status.  Particularly men.  Also, considering that the 3 act story ballets earn 85% of ABT's ticket income, I don't think Ms. Guillem is a good fit because she likes risky modern choreo that doesn't pay the bills (at least when she's not performing in it).

I don't think Guillem would receive serious consideration (even if she was interested) for just the reasons you cite.  BUT, the reason her name came to mind is that ABT could benefit from the great influx of energy she would no doubt bring.  (Much like Nureyev revived a moribund Paris Opera Ballet with his great energy in the 1980s.)  In my opinion, an extreme lassitude has settled on ABT in regard to performance levels and (especially) programming choices, and too many people, from the board on down, are settling.  The City Center choices are especially appalling -- 3 Tharps (including the overprogrammed "In the Upper Room"), 2 Taylors, 1 Cunningham and 1 Martha Clarke.  All this while the Antony Tudor repertory moves into the extinction category with the repertories of Erick Hawkins, Alwin Nikolais and Anna Sokolow.

[vipa]

Just got my brochure for the ABT City Center season in the mail.  The principals shown with head shots on the men's side are Cornejo, Gomes and  Sterns.  Where's Hallberg?

On women's side - Herrera, Kent, Murphy, Part & Reyes.  No Irina D. or Max.

[mussel]

vipa, on 23 July 2011 - 12:11 PM, said:

Just got my brochure for the ABT City Center season in the mail.  The principals shown with head shots on the men's side are Cornejo, Gomes and  Sterns.  Where's Hallberg?

On women's side - Herrera, Kent, Murphy, Part & Reyes.  No Irina D. or Max.

Hallberg will probably be guesting with AB's Merry Widow down under around that time.  The CC season is only a week, so I don't see the need to summon all the principals.

[Roberto Dini]

miliosr, on 08 July 2011 - 08:48 AM, said:

(A counter-argument would be that stars are born and not made.  In which case, McKenzie deserves little or no credit for Gomes, Hallberg, Murphy, Stearns and others.)

While that may be a counter-argument, I think it's a weak one.  Most people need time to grow into parts.  Stearns was a prime example of being thrust into too many leading roles too soon.  I remember several of his performances had a sort of "deer-in-the-headlights" quality to them.

[angelica]

Can't/won't buy tickets without the casting. If they can cast the spring season in October, they can cast November in July.

[angelica]

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:43 AM, said:

Can't/won't buy tickets without the casting. If they can cast the spring season in October, they can cast November in July.

Oh, I almost forgot: there's the escape clause that casts are subject to change but they won't let you exchange your tickets.

[aurora]

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:46 AM, said:

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:43 AM, said:

Can't/won't buy tickets without the casting. If they can cast the spring season in October, they can cast November in July.

Oh, I almost forgot: there's the escape clause that casts are subject to change but they won't let you exchange your tickets.

This is a ridiculous statement in its tone. You can complain legitimately perhaps about them not exchanging tickets, though if they let people do so on the basis of cast changes it would be a mess for them, but they do not change casts arbitrarily. Cast changes at ABT are almost always due to injury. If you really want to complain about that fine, but it isn't reasonable. They do not engage in arbitrary cast changes (unlike your favorite company) so don't make statements which slyly suggest this is the case.

[puppytreats]

aurora, on 25 July 2011 - 09:50 AM, said:

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:46 AM, said:

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:43 AM, said:

Can't/won't buy tickets without the casting. If they can cast the spring season in October, they can cast November in July.

Oh, I almost forgot: there's the escape clause that casts are subject to change but they won't let you exchange your tickets.

This is a ridiculous statement in its tone. You can complain legitimately perhaps about them not exchanging tickets, though if they let people do so on the basis of cast changes it would be a mess for them, but they do not change casts arbitrarily. Cast changes at ABT are almost always due to injury. If you really want to complain about that fine, but it isn't reasonable. They do not engage in arbitrary cast changes (unlike your favorite company) so don't make statements which slyly suggest this is the case.

I am interpreting the quotation to mean that a bait and switch occurred, which would not be something arbitrary, but also would not be due to injury.  Who would not be upset by such a thing?

[aurora]

puppytreats, on 25 July 2011 - 10:29 AM, said:

aurora, on 25 July 2011 - 09:50 AM, said:

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:46 AM, said:

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:43 AM, said:

Can't/won't buy tickets without the casting. If they can cast the spring season in October, they can cast November in July.

Oh, I almost forgot: there's the escape clause that casts are subject to change but they won't let you exchange your tickets.

This is a ridiculous statement in its tone. You can complain legitimately perhaps about them not exchanging tickets, though if they let people do so on the basis of cast changes it would be a mess for them, but they do not change casts arbitrarily. Cast changes at ABT are almost always due to injury. If you really want to complain about that fine, but it isn't reasonable. They do not engage in arbitrary cast changes (unlike your favorite company) so don't make statements which slyly suggest this is the case.

I am interpreting the quotation to mean that a bait and switch occurred, which would not be something arbitrary, but also would not be due to injury.  Who would not be upset by such a thing?

Exactly, but abt doesn't do that. This is why I said it was a ridiculous statement. I would be upset by it. I was upset when with no explanation my tickets were switched by the Bolshoi once. But ABT is actually remarkably good about such things. It is really almost always do to injury or something else that cannot be avoided like the Osipova snafu this spring. They are not known for bait and switch and to imply otherwise, as was done (you got that implication) is libelous.

[angelica]

aurora, on 25 July 2011 - 02:16 PM, said:

puppytreats, on 25 July 2011 - 10:29 AM, said:

aurora, on 25 July 2011 - 09:50 AM, said:

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:46 AM, said:

angelica, on 25 July 2011 - 06:43 AM, said:

Can't/won't buy tickets without the casting. If they can cast the spring season in October, they can cast November in July.

Oh, I almost forgot: there's the escape clause that casts are subject to change but they won't let you exchange your tickets.

This is a ridiculous statement in its tone. You can complain legitimately perhaps about them not exchanging tickets, though if they let people do so on the basis of cast changes it would be a mess for them, but they do not change casts arbitrarily. Cast changes at ABT are almost always due to injury. If you really want to complain about that fine, but it isn't reasonable. They do not engage in arbitrary cast changes (unlike your favorite company) so don't make statements which slyly suggest this is the case.

I am interpreting the quotation to mean that a bait and switch occurred, which would not be something arbitrary, but also would not be due to injury.  Who would not be upset by such a thing?

Exactly, but abt doesn't do that. This is why I said it was a ridiculous statement. I would be upset by it. I was upset when with no explanation my tickets were switched by the Bolshoi once. But ABT is actually remarkably good about such things. It is really almost always do to injury or something else that cannot be avoided like the Osipova snafu this spring. They are not known for bait and switch and to imply otherwise, as was done (you got that implication) is libelous.

Yes, I do take issue with the no exchanges, no returns policy. I am not insinuating bait and switch, although I can see why you might have read it that way. Since for many balletomanes, amongst whom I count myself, the cast is the most important thing, I do think it would be fair for any company to exchange tickets if the cast changes. If the cast changes because my favorite dancer is injured, then I should be allowed to exchange my ticket for another performance if I'm unhappy with the particular replacement. You may not agree with this, you may think that it would create a "mess" for abt, but it is not "ridiculous" or "libelous."

[angelica]

aurora, on 25 July 2011 - 09:50 AM, said:

They do not engage in arbitrary cast changes (unlike your favorite company) so don't make statements which slyly suggest this is the case.

Excuse me, but abt IS my favorite company.

[vipa]

I believe that most, if not all companies only change casts for very, very good reasons.  Maybe there is an exception out there (I can't address what others have said about the Bolshoi).    On the whole casts changes are a real pain for management.  They don't want to get grief from ticket holder.  Often one change in casting necessitates other changes.  Cast changes are fun for no one.

Back to the City Center season - It will take amazing casting to get me to buy a ticket.

[abatt]

vipa, on 25 July 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

Back to the City Center season - It will take amazing casting to get me to buy a ticket.

Ditto.