NinaFan

I hope so! Fingers crossed for both of them!

I don't remember him being replaced for injury either, just reshuffling by ABT. I'm thinking about trading in my Saturday night Corsaire for another Manon. Guess I'll make my mind up in a couple of hours....

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loved Loved Loved Tuesday night’s performance! Simkin was so amazing that I could not contain myself. Looking forward to his Ali again tonight and Saturday night, with Shevchenko and Shayer plus Bell’s debut as Lankendem.

fondoffouettes - Thanks for this too!

ABT typically revives a ballet for two years, so hopefully he'll make his debut next Tuesday and then get to see him as des Grieux again next year.

Very funny! Looking forward to seeing her next month.

Like many on BA, I'm sorry that Cornjeo has been out with injury as well. ABT still has him listed in Manon, so maybe he'll be recovered enough to dance next week? I've never seen Mack before and I'm looking forward to seeing him. I'm especially excited about seeing Simkin's Ali. Whether he does the triple saute de basque manège or not, he is always an exceptional Ali.

OMG! Thank you for posting! I have three of his four Ali's, so hopefully he'll attempt it at one of the performances! Can't wait!

JMcN - Thank you so much for all of the background information on this ballet. My husband and I are going to see it on Saturday. After reading your post, I'll be going with a different frame of mind (and reference!). Thanks again for weighing in on this.

Good point. I just read several reviews, and yes, they are positive for the most part. I have to assume Marston was satisfied with ABT's interpretation and dancing. So what's changed?

No, it's 24 hours in advance of the performance you're exchanging.

I'd skip the ballet and save yourself a trip on Amtrak. But since I haven't seen it (yet), I can only go by the awful reviews. I went to DC for a couple of Corsaire's in April, but that was totally worth the trip on Amtrak. Jane Eyre hardly seems worth a big investment in time or money, especially since you can use your Amtrak points another weekend.

Yes, they're subscription tickets which can be exchanged, and quite honestly I'd like to get rid of them. For some reason my husband seems to want to see the ballet, so we'll probably just leave it. It won't be the first ballet we've wasted our time and money on. If he changes his mind, I still have another day to exchange them. But hey, maybe we won't hate it.... I agree!

I'd go with Lane/Cornejo, with my second choice being Boylston/Hallberg. Yes, Cornjeo may be replaced, but Lane should be absolutely gorgeous in the role. If Cornejo is replaced (hopefully not), perhaps a young dancer will be given a debut in the role (Bell would be nice).

Ditto, thanks for everyone's reports. And like ABT Fan, I'm not looking forward to seeing it this weekend either, especially since I could have spent the money on a better ballet.

Not me, I'll take the eight weeks. When they reduce performances to five MET weeks, it’s even more important for ABT not to waste any of the five weeks on mediocre or inferior ballets. But there is no guarantee. I’d like to see them do five weeks of ballet at the MET, and set up an additional season over at the Koch (maybe three weeks in March?) to do full lengths and mixed bills, plus keep the fall season at the Koch. Since Paul Taylor moved their three week season from March to November, it would be a perfect spot for ABT (assuming the Koch hasn’t rented it out already).

IMO, this is a gorgeous ballet, with lots of great dancing. I've seen MacMillan's Manon many times with The Royal Ballet and ABT and have never been able to get enough of it. But like any ballet, it is important to get a good cast as that can make or break a performance. It's is a very dramatic ballet with a bit of comedy as well. The story line is completely different than Romeo and Juliet, however there are some gorgeous lifts reminiscent of MacMillan's lifts in Romeo and Juliet which fit and add to the drama. The final scene leaves me thoroughly drained. Don't miss it.

They are still showing him in Manon, so maybe he'll be well enough to dance by then?

ABT's site has been updated and now shows Cornejo replaced in both Corsaires. Mack replaces him as Conrad on Tuesday night, and Whiteside replaces him on Saturday matinee.

Oh my.....with the exception of Arizona Native's exceptional review, the rest of the reviews don't sound very promising. I only have tickets for one cast, so as of now I'll probably just leave it that way. Hopefully I'll enjoy it.

I agree, Whiteside should be terrific as Rochester. I can't make it tonight, but will try for his next Rochester which I believe is on Thursday. Have fun tonight!

Twyla appeared for bows at the Saturday matinee as well. Loved the Brahms-Haydn and In the Upper Room, but was disappointed with Deuce Coupe. It's not that we didn't enjoy it, but more that we were disappointed in the choice of songs and terrible music quality. She used a few hits, but mostly it was their less popular songs. The dancing was good, and Katherine Williams was terrific as the ballerina doing the classical ballet, but I found it a distraction and felt it just didn't go with the rest of the dancing. Whiteside was an absolute scream in a sped up section of one of their songs.

I'm looking forward to the Boylston/Forster cast in Jane Eyre, but I'm very happy to continue seeing Shevchenko/Whiteside in Swan Lake. They were marvelous together last year. That being said, the AD moves partners around a lot, so you may get your wish.

I think Gorak is fine in the soloist roles at ABT, but I don’t think he’s really a match for NYCB. NYCB currently has an outstanding crop of men from the corps up through principal, so it’s probably unlikely they would hire him on the chance that he’d improve on the two deficiencies you’ve noted. Askegard was a superb partner, and de Luz one of the rare gems who come along every so often. And of course, let’s not forget the great Robert LaFosse. All three dancers were obviously very successful in adapting to Balanchine’s style etc. Gorak is likely to remain a soloist if he stays at ABT. That being said, I hope he continues to thrive and grow wherever he dances, and yes, perhaps San Francisco Ballet might be a good fit should he choose to leave ABT.