4 replies to this topic

[julip]

I haven't seen Atlanta Ballet in a couple of years, I happened to be in town, though so I was able to see Butterfly.

The casting didn't bother me so much...the choreography was what really bugged me.  I went into it with really high expectations because I had heard so many great things about Stanton Welch and Madame Butterfly, my mistake obviously. While it was the best new choreography for a new full-length story ballet that I have seen, it just seemed so trite.    I felt that the choreographer tried to tell to much of the story instead of paring it down to its basics to let the audience truly understand what was going on without relying on the notes.  In fact, the only part that I felt was interesting at all was the pas de deux at the end of the first act between butterfly and Pinkerton.  With that particular sequence I could see that I would probably like Welch as a choregrapher for smaller scaled more abstract works.  He had very innovated partnering that flowed in and out of movements without obvious breaks in movement, but the rest of the show I had to laugh at at times because it was so predictable  and unimaginative.

The dancers I felt did as good a job as they could with the choreography, and I personally had no problems with casting--and I would be curious to know what problems you thought there were.  I saw the Friday Night cast.

On an additional note, I heard a rumor that Madame Butterfly is Julianne Spratlin's last performance with Atlanta Ballet and that she will be dancing with Joffrey.  I have to wonder if the lack of interesting repretoire is one of the main reasons this wonderful artist is possibly leaving.

[julip]

I didn't notice Pinkerton's friends that much.  I did think Jonah Hooper did a wonderful job as Sharpless, though--and I would say that he outdanced Jim Stein.  But, I think the physical characteristics of the leads played more in their casting than the dancing itself.  Big burly man, little tiny woman.  

The times I have seen Atlanta Ballet since John McFall has been director I have been let down.  The dancers still do a great job, but I just never find what they are doing to be interesting anymore.  Maybe I was spoiled a bit growing up while Robert Barnett was still the director--then the ballet seemed to be much more well-rounded and interesting.  Now its like watching Disney on ice.