ksk04 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hot off the presses (or just announced on their facebook): SAN FRANCISCO, Monday, March 5, 2012—San Francisco Ballet—the oldest professional ballet company in America—has announced that it will embark on its first engagement to London since 2004. From September 14-23, 2012, the Company will perform three mixed-repertory programs over nine performances, at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, featuring: UK premieres and works by choreographers including George Balanchine, Mark Morris, Christopher Wheeldon, SF Ballet Choreographer in Residence Yuri Possokhov, and SF Ballet Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. http://www.sfballet.org/about/media_center/press_releases/London_Tour_Announcement Link to comment
Jane Simpson Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Programme details Programme A (Sept. 14,18 at 7:30pm; Sept 23 at 4:00pm) Divertimento No.15 Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Divertimento No 15 in B-flat major Staged by Elyse Borne Costume Design: after Karinska Lighting Design: Mark Stanley Symphonic Dances Choreography: Edwaard Liang Music: Sergei Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances Op. 45 Costume Design: Mark Zappone Lighting Design: Jack Mehler Within the Golden Hour Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon© Music: Ezio Bosso Designs: Martin Pakledinaz Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls Programme B (Sept. 15, 21 at 7:30pm; Sept. 16 at 4:00pm) Ghosts Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Music: C.F. Kip Winger Scenic Design: Laura Jellinek Costume Design: Mark Zappone Lighting Design Mary Louise Geiger RAkU Chorography: Yuri Possokhov Music: Shinji Eshima Scenic & Projection Design: Alexander V. Nichols Costume Design: Mark Zappone Lighting Design: Christopher Dennis Trio Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence Scenic Design: Alexander V. Nichols Costume Design: Mark Zappone Lighting Design: Christopher Dennis Programme C (Sept. 19, 20, 22 at 7:30pm) Beaux Choreography: Mark Morris Music: Bohuslav Martinů Concerto for Harpsichord and Small Orchestra, Two pieces for harpsichord, lento Scenic and Costume Design: Isaac Mizrahi Lighting Design: Michael Chybowski Classical Symphony Chorography: Yuri Possokhov Music: Sergei Prokofiev Costume Design Sandra Woodall Lighting Design: David Finn Video Concept: Yuri Zhukov Guide to Strange Places Choreography: Ashley Page Music: John Adams Guide to Strange Places Scenic & Costume Design: Jon Morrell Lighting Design: David Finn Number Nine© Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon Music: Michael Torke Ash Costume Design: Holly Hynes Lighting Design: Mary Louise Geiger SFB goers - what would be your top recommendations? Link to comment
PeggyR Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 My 2cents: Program A: Within the Golden Hour - lovely and surprising at times; end image is glorious and there's a terrific slow-motion pdd. SFB looks good in D15, so that's a good one. The Liang hasn't been seen yet. Personally, I think Program B is the weakest: some people love Ghosts, some don't; I'm ambivalent, but it has its moments; love the costumes and women's hair. RAkU has some stunning imagery (the kimono, the soldiers), but ultimately felt like something is missing. Trio is pretty, but you'll forget it as soon as you leave the hall. Program C: Missed Beaux due to illness, but it got good reviews. And the men of the company are terrific; you probably can't go wrong there. Classical Symphony is good, silly fun; shows off the company's speed and the men in particular look great. The Page is new and not yet seen. Number Nine wasn't really my cup of tea, but the color design was wonderful; didn't like the music either, but it's fast, fast, fast and leaves you breathless; to me it looked kind of thrown together, but it was popular. Personally, if I could only see one, it would be A, even though the Liang is an unknown. Anyone else??? Link to comment
PeggyR Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Press release detailing updates to the programs for the London visit in September. original UPDATE Programme A (Sept. 14,18 at 7:30pm; Sept 23 at 4:00pm) Divertimento No.15/George Balanchine Symphonic Dances/Edwaard Liang Within the Golden Hour©/Christopher Wheeldon UPDATE: Number Nine©/Wheeldon Programme B (Sept. 15, 21 at 7:30pm; Sept. 16 at 4:00pm) Ghosts/Christopher Wheeldon UPDATE: Trio/Helgi Tomasson RAkU/Yuri Possokhov UPDATE: Ghosts/Christopher Wheeldon Trio/Helgi Tomasson UPDATE: Guide to Strange Places/Ashley Page Programme C (Sept. 19, 20, 22 at 7:30pm) Beaux/Mark Morris Classical Symphony/Yuri Possokhov Guide to Strange Places/Ashley Page UPDATE: RAkU/Yuri Possokhov Number Nine©/Christopher Wheeldon UPDATE: Within the Golden Hour©/Christopher Wheeldon Link to comment
PeggyR Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Casts for London. It's particularly good to see plenty of opportunities being given to members of the corps de ballet. Among the corps women, Sasha de Sola has been attracting notice; and Nicole Ciaponni's batterie dazzles. The SFB men -- principals through corps -- are consistently excellent, but corps member Francisco Mungamba, who doesn't look like he's old enough to shave, has been impressive with beautiful carriage and line. PRINCIPAL CASTING FOR SAN FRANCISCO BALLET Programs A, B and C Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London *Denotes premiere in role In the event of injury or illness, casting is subject to change PROGRAM A: OPENING NIGHT – Friday, September 14 – 7:30PM Divertimento No. 15 Choreographer: George Balanchine Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Martin West Davit Karapetyan, Hansuke Yamamoto, Jaime Garcia-Castilla Vanessa Zahorian Sasha De Sola, Frances Chung, Koto Ishihara, Dores Andre INTERMISSION Symphonic Dances Choreographer: Edwaard Liang Composer: Sergei Rachmaninov Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Vito Mazzeo Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets Maria Kochetkova, Vitor Luiz INTERMISSION Number Nine Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Michael Torke Conductor: Martin West Frances Chung, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Maria Kochetkova, Gennadi Nedvigin Sarah Van Patten, Carlos Quenedit Sofiane Sylve, Vito Mazzeo Program A: Tuesday, September 18 – 7:30PM Divertimento No. 15 Choreographer: George Balanchine Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Ming Luke Gennadi Nedvigin, Hansuke Yamamoto, Jaime Garcia-Castilla Maria Kochetkova Clara Blanco, Frances Chung, Nicole Ciapponi, Dores Andre INTERMISSION Symphonic Dances Choreographer: Edwaard Liang Composer: Sergei Rachmaninov Conductor: Martin West Frances Chung, Jaime Garcia-Castilla Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets Maria Kochetkova, Vitor Luiz INTERMISSION Number Nine Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Michael Torke Conductor: Ming Luke Dores Andre, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Vanessa Zahorian, Garen Scribner Sarah Van Patten, Carlos Quenedit Sofiane Sylve, Vito Mazzeo Program A: Sunday, September 23 – 4:00PM Divertimento No. 15 Choreographer: George Balanchine Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Ming Luke Davit Karapetyan, Shane Wuerthner*, Taras Domitro Vanessa Zahorian Sasha De Sola, Sarah Van Patten, Koto Ishihara, WanTing Zhao* INTERMISSION Symphonic Dances Choreographer: Edwaard Liang Composer: Sergei Rachmaninov Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Vito Mazzeo Sarah Van Patten*, Tiit Helimets Maria Kochetkova, Vitor Luiz INTERMISSION Number Nine Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Michael Torke Conductor: Ming Luke Frances Chung, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Maria Kochetkova, Gennadi Nedvigin Yuan Yuan Tan, Carlos Quenedit Sasha De Sola, Vitor Luiz PROGRAM B: OPENING NIGHT – Saturday, September 15 – 7:30PM Trio Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Joan Boada Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets, Vito Mazzeo Maria Kochetkova, Gennadi Nedvigin INTERMISSION Ghosts Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: C.F. Kip Winger Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets, Shane Wuerthner* INTERMISSION Guide to Strange Places Choreographer: Ashley Page Composer: John Adams Conductor: Martin West Sarah Van Patten, Carlos Quenedit* Maria Kochetkova, Gennadi Nedvigin Frances Chung, Pascal Molat Vanessa Zahorian, Jaime Garcia-Castilla Program B: Sunday, September 16 – 4:00PM Trio Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola, Vitor Luiz Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets Vito Mazzeo Frances Chung, Davit Karapetyan* INTERMISSION Ghosts Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: C.F. Kip Winger Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets, Shane Wuerthner INTERMISSION Guide to Strange Places Choreographer: Ashley Page Composer: John Adams Conductor: Martin West Sarah Van Patten, Carlos Quenedit Clara Blanco, Vitor Luiz Frances Chung, Pascal Molat Vanessa Zahorian, Jaime Garcia-Castilla Program B: Friday, September 21 – 7:30PM Trio Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Joan Boada Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets Vito Mazzeo Maria Kochetkova, Gennadi Nedvigin INTERMISSION Ghosts Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: C.F. Kip Winger Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Vitor Luiz Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets, Shane Wuerthner INTERMISSION Guide to Strange Places Choreographer: Ashley Page Composer: John Adams Conductor: Martin West Jennifer Stahl, Vito Mazzeo Clara Blanco, Vitor Luiz Frances Chung, Pascal Molat Dores Andre, Davit Karapetyan PROGRAM C: OPENING NIGHT – Wednesday, September 19 – 7:30PM Beaux Choreographer: Mark Morris Composer: Bohuslav Martinů Conductor: Martin West Harpsichord: Bradley Moore Pierre-Francois Vilanoba, Pascal Molat, Francisco Mungamba* Vito Mazzeo, Lonnie Weeks, Gennadi Nedvigin Joan Boada, Garen Scribner, Dustin Shane Spero Classical Symphony Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Hansuke Yamamoto Frances Chung, Carlos Quenedit* Dores Andre, Jaime Garcia-Castilla INTERMISSION RAkU Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Shinji Eshima Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith Pascal Molat INTERMISSION Within the Golden Hour Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Ezio Bosso Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Damian Smith Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba Program C: Thursday, September 20 – 7:30PM Beaux Choreographer: Mark Morris Composer: Bohuslav Martinů Conductor: Martin West Harpsichord: Bradley Moore Jeremy Rucker, Myles Thatcher, Francisco Mungamba Vito Mazzeo, Lonnie Weeks, James Sofranko Sean Bennett, Garen Scribner, Dustin Shane Spero Classical Symphony Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Gennadi Nedvigin Clara Blanco, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Dores Andre, Jaime Garcia-Castilla INTERMISSION RAkU Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Shinji Eshima Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith Pascal Molat INTERMISSION Within the Golden Hour Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Ezio Bosso Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Damian Smith Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba Program C: Saturday, September 22 – 7:30PM Beaux Choreographer: Mark Morris Composer: Bohuslav Martinů Conductor: Martin West Harpsichord: Bradley Moore Pierre-Francois Vilanoba, Pascal Molat, Francisco Mungamba Vito Mazzeo, Lonnie Weeks, Gennadi Nedvigin Joan Boada, Garen Scribner, Dustin Shane Spero Classical Symphony Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Hansuke Yamamoto Frances Chung, Carlos Quenedit Dores Andre, Jaime Garcia-Castilla INTERMISSION RAkU Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Composer: Shinji Eshima Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith Vitor Luiz INTERMISSION Within the Golden Hour Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon Composer: Ezio Bosso Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Damian Smith Maria Kochetkova, Joan Boada Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-Francois Vilanoba Link to comment
Helene Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Bruce Marriott asks Helgi Tomasson Five Questions for "DanceTabs," and he notes at the top that Tomasson and Mark Morris are going to be interviewed on BBC Radio Three tomorrow during the "In Tune" show, which starts 4:30pm local time (11am EDT, 8am PDT) and runs two hours. Their 20-minute interview will be sometime during the show, which is accessible online live and a week later in archives. (I'm not sure how long the archives stay live.) Here is the link to the interview: http://www.dancetabs.com/2012/09/helgi-tomasson-san-francisco-ballet-artistic-director-principal-choreographer/ SFB opens at Sadler's Wells this Friday, 14 September. Link to comment
PeggyR Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 SFB dancers blogging about the London tour. Link to comment
PeggyR Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Photo galleries by Dave Morgan of SFB's London programs A and B. The Flickr page also has links to Dance Tabs coverage of the engagement. Program A Program B Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 th Guardian's review is up already, she likes it. posed on SanFranciscoBallet site and Facebook SFB. Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I noticed Domitro is only scheduled in one performance of Div.#15 during the whole thing... Link to comment
Eshana Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I noticed Domitro is only scheduled in one performance of Div.#15 during the whole thing... And that Ruben Martin and Lorena Feijoo are not scheduled to dance at all...Lorena I can understand as she's just had her baby, but Ruben? Hopefully there's no burnt bridges/bad blood, or worse yet, an injury... Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Yes, I guess Feijoo is still in maternity leave. I wonder how she will face her career after such absence, being already in her 40's. She's a strong ballerina, though... Link to comment
Quiggin Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I noticed Domitro is only scheduled in one performance of Div.#15 during the whole thing... I thought so too. And he's pretty good in Tomasson's Trio, a clip of which is included in Domitro's Artist Spotlight video at the SFB website. The part was probably made with some of his dancing characteristics in mind. And hard to imagine Nine without Isaac Hernandez, still in some of the publicity stills, who's now dancing at Het Nationale Ballet. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 And hard to imagine Nine without Isaac Hernandez, still in some of the publicity stills, who's now dancing at Het Nationale Ballet. A great opportunity for him, but sad for SFB fans. Link to comment
Helene Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 [ADMIN BEANIE ON] We have a Links forum where reviews from newspapers and some major dance blogs are posted daily along with other ballet-related news, and we encourage Ballet Alertniks to follow the daily threads. Performance threads are for members' reviews and not an aggregation of professional critics' writings. We make an exception for tours and allow links to professional blogs and magazines that don't appear in Links, as long as they are discussion points. [ADMIN BEANIE OFF] Link to comment
Jayne Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I have a question about this article / review. Yet the house was packed every night, and the eager response spoke of a hunger for new artists and new experiences that often goes unsatisfied. "There's a buzz, a thrill, to have them here," a friend said, "and it's wonderful to see something truly classical in this theater without the precious air of the Royal Ballet." Another commented, "I always like watching American companies because they're so professional, right to the final bell, even their curtain calls.Can someone please explain the comparison? I wasn't clear what the terms "precious air" or "so professional, right to the final bell" were referring to? Link to comment
Mashinka Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I would love to comment fully on this company that has always been a favourite visitor to London, but a busy schedule meant I was only able to get to one performance. I saw Programme C and confess that four works completely new to me is my idea of ballet heaven. The opening Beaux by Mark Morris had interesting choreography but strangely it didn’t seem to work with the dancers behind the music in places, I’d like to see it again though but perhaps with a different cast. The following piece, Classical Symphony, has to compete with my memories of what Lavrovsky did to the same music, but Possokhov has created a ballet of dazzling dexterity to the very familiar music and the mystery of why the Morris piece looked a little under-danced was to some extent solved as I imagine the company’s male virtuosos were held back for this demanding work. In places I found the choreography a bit frantic but some passages were quite breathtaking in their virtuosity and it was clear that despite the difficulty of the steps the dancers performed with astonishing ease. After the interval we got the one narrative work of the evening, Raku, again by Possokhov and the in-your-face drama of the piece had a massive effect on the audience. Time and again choreographers are attracted to Japanese themes with varying results but this was a very superior effort with a fabulous role for YuanYuan Tan and a score that put me in mind of Khatchaturian in places. Though I think the history of the events portrayed was probably not known to the audience. They saved the very best till last with a fabulous Wheeldon piece called Within the Golden Hour, a gorgeous ballet of stunning invention and beautifully danced by the company. The evening seemed to get better as it went along and the audience were clearly enjoying themselves throughout. SFB doesn’t visit London often enough, though the same can be said of the other US companies, but they always impress, that’s for sure. I think the comments comparing the RB with this company are probably down to the very random standards of performance now prevalent there. Too many performances are marred by indifferent attitudes from the dancers and it is rare to come away from an evening of the RB without comparing unfavourably to the reputation the company had in the past. Kevin O’Hare has a lot to do if the Royal Ballet is ever to be considered top flight again. Link to comment
kbarber Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 There's a nice photo gallery here: http://www.for-ballet-lovers-only.com/san-francisco-ballet-2012.html Link to comment
pherank Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 There's a nice photo gallery here: http://www.for-balle...allet-2012.html Thanks very much for these, everyone. I've been wanting to know how things turned out for my 'hometown' ballet company in Europe. I wish there was more info on the performances in Moscow. Link to comment
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