cobweb

Another rave for Stella and Shklyarov. She was wonderful, especially act 2. And he is a beautiful dancer. Watching him, I felt I was seeing a perfect embodiment of the Russian training system, impeccably trained and professional in every detail. And the perfect gentleman, so touching in his deference to Stella's special occasion. When she stepped onstage the audience greeted her - not the applause you hear for the entrance of a famous ballerina, but the more raucous, hearty, and warm shouts of people glad to see an old friend shine (I count myself as one of her old friends, and I've never even met her!). As for Myrtha, I found Veronika Part a little sluggish. Overall a very exciting evening at the ballet.

I urgently hope that both Mearns and Kowroski can keep their assignments for Midsummer Night's Dream!

OMG. I thought she had gained a few pounds but I didn't want to be mean and say so! Congratulations Maria, but please come back to your audience as soon as you are able!

I was at last night's performance (Walpurgisnacht, Sonatine, La Valse, Symphony in C). It was a wonderful night. Whenever I see all that hair swinging about in Walpurgisnacht, I think that the shampoo industry is missing a great opportunity for a very dramatic commercial. Symphony in C. I love this piece. First movement -- I didn't feel Ana Sophia Scheller was quite up to her previous speed and precision. Veyette very commanding. Second movement -- I love Maria Kowroski in this role (of course, I love her in pretty much any role). I wonder why she did every performance this season, and Mearns and Reichlen none. I couldn't help but wonder if this is the last time I will see Kowroski in this role, but if I live to be 100, I can never forget that moment at the end where she and Tyler Angle lock eyes just before he slowly turns and lowers her down -- a vision of total and poignant surrender to a valiant partner. Third movement -- Ashly Isaacs and Joseph Gordon both looking terrific, like they're the future of NYCB. Isaacs is, IMHO, the most exciting dancer to emerge in years. She has a joy that's infectious and a propulsive quality that is breathtaking. Fourth movement - Lauren King bright, Sean Suozzi not quite as bright. I noticed a funny thing. In the opening movement, Ashley Hod appeared as a demisoloist, in place of Megan LeCrone, who was listed in the program. Then Hod appeared again in the corps in one of the other movements (I forget which), and in the final section, LeCrone appeared in the demisoloist role while Hod stayed with the corps. Wonder what happened there.

Schevchenko looked great! Makes me eager to see her dance!

I'm sure I've seen her name listed as an apprentice this season (like just tonight, in fact). Not sure about the winter season and I don't have those programs on hand.

Casting is up for the final week, all Midsummer Night's Dream. I did a double take when I saw the casting for the final performance -- M. Miller as Titania? Who? Oh, wait - isn't there an apprentice named Miriam Miller? Wow. I applaud NYCB for the bold casting moves! Love that they trust, and try, the talents of their very own dancers. I have absolutely no idea who this dancer is, but I'm glad I have a ticket to that performance!

Terrific news. I was not interested in any of the other Giselles. But I will be there to see Stella!

I was also there last night. Fresh off of two weeks of Balanchine and lots of "black and white," to suddenly see all my favorite dancers in this romantic, narrative ballet was a bit of a bizarro experience. I am no expert on Bournonville style, but I thought the dancers mostly looked lovely in the divertissements, if a little ragged and perhaps under-rehearsed at times. Amour, as to your question about the first soloist in the pas de six, if I recall correctly it was Indiana Woodward. Sara Mearns makes a very glamorous village girl, but I thought she and Tyler Angle were wonderful. I don't have time right now to do justice to the production of La Sylphide right now, but a few brief comments on the dancers. Andrew Veyette is much more nuanced as an actor than I would have imagined. When I think "simple highlands girl," the first name that comes to mind isn't exactly Megan LeCrone, but she too surprised me with her acting. Joseph Gordon has such an appealing, wide-open presence that I enjoy. Ashley Bouder -- it was hard for me to forget she's the grinning Ashley Bouder I know so well, but as Amour said, she did a surprising job of being ethereal. The character of Madge was played as a caricature, and I think that's a mistake. It's as if the production doesn't know if it wants to take the plot seriously or not. Especially when she was urging Gurn to propose to Effie, it seemed to be done for laughs. In a few other subtle ways also I had the feeling the plot wasn't completely taken seriously. I look forward to seeing Lovette and Huxley!

I enjoyed Kowroski very much yesterday despite the wobbles. I don't really understand why she had trouble with the "switchover" when she handled the dramatic penchee in Agon so well (where her partner suddenly lies down on the floor). Unless she can beef up her technique, she's going to have to relinquish this role before too long. That got me thinking about who would replace her, and who could come close to matching her. The only current dancer who can match her for intensity and conveying a sense of interiority (can't think of a better term) is Sara Mearns. Who else? I believe Ashley Laracey would be good in the role, but I'm not clear if the company sees her as principal material, and she's not getting any younger. In general, IMHO, they should be looking to develop dancers with the ability to convey a sense of inner drama to the audience. Re Catazaro, I am wondering how this happened. Staff must have known he was not fully prepared. As noted above, it's not fair to him, or to the audience, to expose him like this when he's not ready.

Another great night at NYCB. Square Dance with Erica Pereira and Anthony Huxley. Pereira seems lightweight, and I don't just mean her body type. She is reliable, cheery, and competent. But doesn't own and command the stage. Huxley though - wow. I used to feel resigned to his never making principal because of his size limitations. But after tonight and so many performances of great form, elegance, commitment, and musicality I will feel it's a great injustice if he doesn't become principal. Tombeau de Couperin shows off the high level of the corps. I feel like I haven't been seeing enough of Gwyneth Muller, so it was good to see her, and others! Stravinsky violin concerto. Amar Ramasar and Maria Kowroski looking so great this season. !!! I feel Sterling Hyltin and Ask la Cour are mismatched height wise. He keeps looking down at her and that ruins his line. In general he's not as stretched out as he should be. No word on the matinee and Catazaro's second outing as Apollo??

Ditto to the comments about the sparkling Alexa Maxwell in Walpurgisnacht last night. Note to Alexa: glad to meet you! I look forward to seeing you again soon! Mearns was beautiful, and those chaines on the diagonal so sharp and unbelievably fast it was stunning. And with her hair down! It was quite a sight. Megan Le Crone replaced Clare Kretzchmar (I'm sure I'm not spelling that right) in the first movement of symphony in c and Kretzchmar replaced Faye Arthurs in the second. Look forward to any reports in Catazaro's second effort at Apollo. Hoping for the best!

Me too! I often don't even notice it's a "See the Music"night until the pit starts rising up, and my heart sinks. They are typically well presented and informative, but all I'm thinking is, but I want to see the performance and get on home -- I have to get up for work in the morning! I like the idea of having it during intermission, I would enjoy it a lot more then. I notice that this season NYCB is making a big point of informing people there's no late seating (an insert with my tickets, an email about it, and verbal reminders when ordering over the phone). Amen to that! I just wish they had taken the opportunity to address other aspects of audience behavior: please don't check your cellphone during the performance, chat with your neighbor, or lean forward in your seat!

Sadly, I have to agree with the comments about Catazaro's performance in Apollo last night. So surprising. Maybe it was a major case of nerves? An even bigger mistake than dropping the lyre, IMHO, was breaking form and going after it. My sense was that he started off nervous, got more rattled after dropping the lyre, and couldn't recover his concentration. Hoping he can turn this around in his next performance! I liked Duo Concertant better with Janzen and Hyltin than I did with Bouder and Huxley, but overall I'm finding this piece tedious to sit through. In Agon I really missed Kowroski and Ramasar. Adrian DW is, as abatt said, becoming an NYCB MVP, but in this role Reichlen doesn't have the intense presence and doesn't command the stage, the way Kowroski does.

... and another wonderful performance at the matinee. Apollo-Agon- duo concertant-symphony in 3 movements. Just thoroughly terrific. The excellence of the men particularly struck me. The commitment and attack of Adrian Danchig-Waring, Andrew Veyette, Amar Ramasar, and Daniel Ulbricht was inspiring. And I'm thrilled to see the super-talented Taylor Stanley in anything. The waviness of his arms in the wavy sections of the Symph in 3 Movements pdd was almost unreal. Enjoying the great company. Whereas across the plaza there are few principals I actually want to see, at NYCB there are very few dancers (practically none) in the entire company that I don't feel excited to see.

Three terrific nights at NYCB -- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. This is what ballet is all about for me! So many standouts. Maria Kowroski and Amar Ramasar especially, so sharp and so musical in the Agon pdd one night, and Stravinsky Violin Concerto the next. Ramasar didn't used to be one of my favorite dancers, but now all I can say is I love Amar Ramasar! It seems like he's dancing major roles every night, and brings good humor, excellence, and commitment to everything. I loved Adrian Danchig-Waring's Apollo. The wingspan of his arms was astonishing. Loved Ashly Isaacs in her debut as Polyhymnia. Her smile is huge, her energy seems boundless, and she seems so completely at ease with the choreography -- something about it is infectious, and I get excited when I'm watching her! Ashley Bouder was amazing in Square Dance, one of my very favorite pieces. Pure joy. I'm not so crazy about the Ashley Bouder-Anthony Huxley pairing, as in Duo Concertant. They just seem totally mismatched types, with him sophisticated and elegant, and her a bouncy, grinning showoff type. Concerto Barocco -- Teresa Reichlen is absolutely beautiful, and Sara Mearns was mesmerizing, but I thought the partnering in the pdd, with Reichlen and Justin Peck, looked labored. Oh, and Jennie Somogyi in Episodes looked totally sassy. I had the feeling the audience was happy to see her, and she seemed overjoyed to be back.

The new box office doesn't seem designed for human habitation. The old one always drove me crazy because it was so dark and you couldn't see when the agents were available. But although I consider myself pretty modern and minimalist, I would not want to work in the new one...boxy and bare.

Casting up week 3. They seem to be getting the casting online a bit earlier this season. Many debuts! Exciting! Comments?

Stella Abrera looks lovely in the clips I've been able to see from the Guggenheim Giselle. Maybe it's wishful thinking... But could they be planning to throw her in for a performance?! I would definitely be there!

I agree Russell Janzen seems perfect for Apollo. I also think Zachary Catazaro would be fantastic. I'd be there to see Craig Hall too. Lots of good choices! In addition to Chase Finlay, I notice the following missing from the casting sheet: Abi Stafford, Ashley Laracey, and Joaquin de Luz.

Casting up for first week! Jennie Somogyi and Ana Sophia Scheller both back. Surprised but eager. Count me in for Apollo with Adrian Danchig Waring and Ashly Isaacs. Can't wait!!!

So great to see Andrew Veyette listed and back in action again. Also exciting -- Ashly Isaacs not only back from injury, but debuting as Russian Girl in Serenade. Wish I could be there!

Thanks for the report, liebs. I'm glad to hear Pereira did well. It's interesting what you say about the Pereira-Stanley pairing, because I thought Bouder and Huxley were mismatched also, body-type-wise as well as temperament-wise. For spring I hope they put Bouder with Stanley and Pereira with Huxley. Oh, and I'd like to see Abi Stafford return to the role.

Like abatt, I await the return of Ashly Isaacs. Russell Janzen as Apollo sounds like a match made in heaven.

If anyone saw Erica Pereira in Square Dance I would love a report. I wasn't sure she could convey the intensity and joy of this piece. I'd also enjoy any report on Isabella LaFreniere as the Good Fairy in Harlequinade. Tonight's performance of Chaconne w Sara Mearns and Russell Janzen was one of those performances that's good for the soul. So many great dancers. Thanks NYCB!