18 replies to this topic

[ksk04]

Hot off the presses (or just announced on their facebook):

Quote

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....ur_Announcement

[Jane Simpson]

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?

[PeggyR]

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???

[PeggyR]

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

[PeggyR]

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

[Helene]

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...-choreographer/

SFB opens at Sadler's Wells this Friday, 14 September.

[PeggyR]

SFB dancers bloggingabout the London tour.

[PeggyR]

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

[Paul Parish]

th Guardian's review is up already, she likes it.
posed on SanFranciscoBallet site and Facebook SFB.

[cubanmiamiboy]

I noticed Domitro is only scheduled in one performance of Div.#15 during the whole thing...

[Eshana]

cubanmiamiboy, on 17 September 2012 - 04:42 PM, said:

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...

[cubanmiamiboy]

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...

[Quiggin]

cubanmiamiboy, on 17 September 2012 - 04:42 PM, said:

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.

[Helene]

Quiggin, on 17 September 2012 - 06:19 PM, said:

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.

[Helene]

[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]