Josette

pherank; Clarence introduced me after a show (the night that Davit proposed to Vanessa) to Lorena Feijoo and Vitor Luiz, who were both utterly charming. I run into the dancers fairly often in the afternoon before performances.

What a wonderful description, pherank. Thank you! BTW, I have also met Clarence. He is very friendly and loves to talk about the dancers, most of whom know him by name.

Esteban Hernandez is dancing the title role in The Prodigal Son in the Saturday matinee!

Yes, he will definitely be on stage at Segerstrom Hall. Have my tickets in hand for two shows. ksk04: Yes, he was most certainly a memorable and compelling Tybalt in Ratmansky's Romeo and Juliet on opening night a few years ago at the Music Center (for me, he stole the show), and then became an ardent Romeo for a weekend matinee with Chelsy Meiss, and performed Tybalt later that evening.

I'm a season subscriber and also purchased extra tickets, so I don't have an answer to your question, ksk04. My subscription series falls on Friday the 17th, which is one of the affected shows.

I just received an email from Segerstrom Hall, where Whipped Cream will be performed next week, stating that Misty Copeland is injured and Skylar Brandt will take over the role of Princess Praline on March 17 and the March 19 matinee.

It sounds like this co-commission will finally bring to Los Angeles's dense population a much-needed Nutcracker by a professional ballet company. ABT performs Ratmansky's Nutcracker in Orange County, which is about 40 miles away from downtown Los Angeles, and which is too far for anyone but a die-hard balletomane to want to drive, particularly in the evening. I suspect there will be little overlap in the two productions' dates as well. Whenever The Los Angeles Music Center has brought in a Nutcracker - in the last 10 years I am only aware of the Mariinsky and the Joffrey at the Music Center- it has been sold out. Joffrey even added a performance because it sold out. It is crazy that Los Angeles Music Center does not have a yearly, money-making Nutcracker. This is great news for Los Angeles to have Balanchine's Nutcracker in town. Interesting also is that Los Angeles Opera's next season includes doing a co-production with the Joffrey of Gluck's Orphee et Euridice, with John Neumeier as director and choreographer. I have not seen Balanchine's Nutcracker live, so I am looking forward to seeing several performances. I can't wait to see the Christmas tree grow. That is my favorite part in the SFB Helgi Tomasson version. Magical.

Drew: agree.

I have the feeling that the Whipped Cream costumes and decor are going to keep me off sweets for a month.

What wonderful news! Congratulations to Hugo Marchand!

I'm going Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday evening; three casts in Orange County. I am missing Gillian Murphy because on Saturday I am going up to San Francisco to see the matinee of SFB's Balanchine program (Violin Concerto, Prodigal Son, Diamonds).

I'd love to see Wei Wang as the prodigal son.

Sylve is the Queen of dancers.

I attended the final Frankenstein on Feb. 26, managing to get a front-row seat, so I could watch faces. I have reservations about parts of the ballet, which have been commented on elsewhere: mainly about Scarlett's choreography for groups being his weak spot; the first act had a scene with the medical students that went on too long and the following scene in a tavern could be cut, please. Once we got through the tavern scene, which seemed like a lot of clutter, things picked up. The pas de deux were choreographically the high points. But I was there for the performances and was very happy with everyone. SFB does not do many obvious narrative ballets such as the McMillan ballets, so it was terrific to see the dancers succeed so convincingly as expressive dance/actors. My personal favorites were Julia Rowe as Justine and Wei Wang as the Creature. Rowe, who always stands out for the quality of her movement, delivered a performance of great poignancy. I had hoped to see Taras Domitro as the Creature, but Wei Wang, from the moment he began breathing when he came to life, floored me. His Creature was grotesque on the surface, but his dancing was so extraordinarily graceful, his port de bras and hands so without tension, and his line so fluid and beautiful, that his Creature was the opposite of monstrous. Because of his expressivity, for me, his Creature was someone gentle, craving love desperately, and no one could see who he really was - making his rejection all the more tragic. Max Cauthorn, who has been with the company for two or three years, was also exceptional for his concentration and his partnering skills; he did not for a moment look like a junior member of the company. Lauren Strongin had a lovely vulnerability; she is a beautiful, finished dancer with better port de bras and classical line than the majority of the female dancers in the company.

I've seen Sylve, Zahorian, Yuan Yuan Tan, and Van Patten in Diamonds (also Julia Diana years ago). We know that Sasha de Sola was rehearsing Diamonds, but with Kochetkova also doing it, that means five ballerinas for Diamonds, which seems unlikely. I've seen Vanessa in Violin Concerto. I'm seeing the Balanchine matinee on March 18 - a break from going to Ratmanksy/ABT's Whipped Cream in O.C. Glad to hear that Sylve and Di Lanno were impressive at the Canada All-Star Ballet Gala. She is world-class.

NBoC principal McGee Maddox will be taking over the role of Jerry Mulligan for the North American tour of An American in Paris, beginning in mid-April. He will be with the show in Toronto on March 27 through April 29, 2018. Congratulations, McGee!

Does anyone know what theatre Jewels will be performed in? Thank you.

sf herminator, thanks so much for that link. I saw Sarah Van Patten in Diamonds several years ago and she was breathtaking. And it's a relief to see that Karapetyan is rehearsing, given his upcoming retirement.

Pherank, I saw Aaron Robison during the Nutcracker run, and was impressed with his strong technique, engaging presence, and virile, expressive dancing. He will be a particular asset to the company, particularly with Karapetyan's retirement.

I am attending the final performance, Feb. 26th Sunday matinee, with Max Cauthorn, Lauren Strongin, and Wei Wang as the Creature.

I so enjoy reading your comments, Ashton Fan, and hope that you keep them coming. Thank you!

Thank you for posting your impressions, hernando's hideaway!

I am seriously considering September-October when the opera is doing Pelleas et Melisande and the ballet is dancing Jewels.

Oh, volcanohunter, thanks for the U.S. tour news in 2018. I'm so excited about this!

I saw Lorena Feijoo dance one of the most glorious, heartfelt Giselles that I had ever seen about five years ago - such beautiful, expressive arms and hands. I loved her also as the lead in Raymonda Act III and she was unforgettable in Liam Scarlett's Hummingbird. She is a generous, musical ballerina who is very much loved. It is another season where we are seeing several beloved dancers retire (i.e., Vanessa Zahorian and Davit Karapetyan). A mutual friend introduced me to Lorena and Vitor Luiz several years ago and she had such a kind and loving soul, switching the conversation away from herself.