NinaFan

Can't wait for Shevchenko's Swan Lake.  Last year was incredible, but if she can beat that, then more power to her.  And yes, I think she should have two O/O performances. 

Sleeping Beauty change - I just noticed that a few performances have Craig Salstein listed as Carabosse!

15 hours ago, alexL said:

ABT website is a bit slow at updating casting changes. According to the Met website, Simkin has been replaced by Hoven in all Manon performances. Who knows how long it will take for them to update his substitute for SL (I suspect his sub will be Whiteside)

And here's the thing.... Just three days ago they posted the casting for the last two weeks which included Simkin in Swan Lake.   They could have just as easily put TBA.   I wonder if there is any chance that he'll be well enough to perform.   

Soooo upset about Simkin........

16 hours ago, nanushka said:

I was thinking about what you wrote in the "Promotions" thread, regarding Shayer, while watching Scott today. I've never loved Scott, but he definitely comes across more as a man than a boy in this role, unlike Shayer. The drama made much more sense. (Not that it has to in Corsaire...)

I saw both casts and thought Scott and Shayer both came across as men.  The drama seemed the same to me either way, however, I found Shayer's dancing much more exciting.  

8 hours ago, ABT Fan said:

Cornejo and Simkin are still listed for their assignments starting Tuesday so hoping that means they’ve both recovered.

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....

3 minutes ago, ABT Fan said:

Oh no, oh no, oh no! Simkin has been replaced as Ali for the rest of his performances! Whiteside and Ahn cover.

I was SO looking forward to seeing him Saturday night.

He must be injured?!

https://www.abt.org/performances/master-calendar/

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!

28 minutes ago, California said:

He's 38 years old and ABT likely won't do Manon again for 2-3 years, so he might sense that this is his last chance.

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.

14 hours ago, pherank said:

Another classic image from Kochetkova: "Oslo season done! See you in September!"

 

Very funny!  Looking forward to seeing her next month.

10 hours ago, BalletFan said:

I'm sooo sorry that Herman (my favorite ABT male dance) is injured. But at the same time, I'm really looking forward to seeing guest artist Brooklyn Mack. I saw him dance about five years ago in Washington, DC. Wow… “electrifying” is a good word to describe Brooklyn's dancing. I’m very anxious to see how he does at the Met.

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.

2 hours ago, fondoffouettes said:

In case you aren't following Simkin on Instagram, this is what he may attempt for his manege in the pas de trois:

 

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! 

51 minutes ago, JMcN said:

We didn't really know what to expect from this work but most of the audiences really seemed to enjoy it.

This was created for a Northern Ballet mini-tour to smaller theatres and premiered in Doncaster in May 2016 (I was there).  It was such a successful tour that it was a main scale tour last year, when it was also very well received.

At the premiere a friend told me that Jane Eyre was her favourite book and that she was disappointed in how the story was told.  As the tour last year continued she changed her opinion quite a lot.  Other friends, who teach literature to university standards think it is a very fine interpretation of the novel.

Fans of Northern Ballet are used to seeing interpretations of literature and perhaps not conventional classical ballet.  The company is chock full of dance actors.  Javier Torres created the role of Rochester and was, basically, born to dance the role.  We all loved the foot motif that he used so very expressively and which is almost pastiched by Jane in the final duet (we would refer to them as duets rather than pdd).

Of course, with any piece it takes time to bed down and by the end of last summer we were seeing intensely emotional and moving performances.  In respect of Bertha, she was created by Victoria Sibson (now retired) who was an incredible dance actress with an amazing stage presence - she certainly presented a demented but rounded characterisation.

In its first run due to injury problems the role of adult Jane was dually created by Hannah Bateman and Dread Blow.  Abigail Prudames also danced the role of Jane.  Rochester was danced by Javier Torres and Mlindi Kulashe.

Although I love this production I can see why it may not be a good fit with ABT because it was created for (very) small stages and a half-sized company.  There were only 19 dancers in each performance.  I would almost have described it as a chamber ballet.  I was surprised that the production had not been expanded for the main scale tour last year.

I suppose the dance content/choreography depends on what you are used to seeing and NB specialise in this type of production rather than full-on classical works - which does not mean to say that the company does not have the classical chops to do a more conventional classical production.  Yoko Ichino produced a glorious, traditional production of Giselle several years ago (sadly only seen in Leeds) and, having seen many traditional productions from the Royal Ballet to the Mariinsly, Bolshoi, ENB, BRB and beyond Northern Ballet did the production proud.  They also won great acclaim for their recent MacMillan tribute programme, particularly for Gloria.

I suppose it's horses for courses.

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.

21 minutes ago, Josette said:

Out of curiosity, I just read four reviews from 2016 by British press of the Northern Ballet's production of Marston's Jane Eyre, which reviews are on the whole positive.  

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? 

Just now, fondoffouettes said:

It will be a $30 fee if you're not a subscriber. At least it seems like you can exchange right up to the performance date, I guess? 

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

15 minutes ago, Roberta said:

re. Jane Eyre - After these terrible reports, I'm wondering if I should bother to spend on an Amtrak ticket to see the Saturday matinee? I may cut my loses with the ABT seat price (Dress Circle) and use the Amtrak points for another weekend. Truly - time is precious.

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. 

30 minutes ago, abatt said:

I'm running to the box office to exchange out of my Eyre tickets for this weekend.  Can't you exchange your tickets?

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....

28 minutes ago, nanushka said:

Personally I'd almost always rather see great choreography performed badly than see terrible choreography performed well.

I agree!

1 hour ago, mille-feuille said:

Based on these responses, I will give it a try! Which cast would y'all recommend? On the one hand it'd be nice to see Bolle, but I've found Seo bland in the past. Lane/Cornejo would usually be my choice, but he may not be able to dance by then. Boylston/ Hallberg?

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). 

13 minutes ago, ABT Fan said:

Thanks for everyone's reports. I'm not really looking forward to seeing it this weekend now, but will try to go with an open mind.

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. 

1 hour ago, abatt said:

I'm beginning to think that reducing the season to 5 weeks at the Met going forward will be a good thing.

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).

24 minutes ago, mille-feuille said:

After seeing the devoid-of-ballet Jane Eyre last night, I'm feeling a little scarred. I had planned on seeing Manon for the first time next week, but now I feel the need to confirm--is there enough dancing in it? (All I've seen of it is the bedroom pas de deux, pretzel-like partnering I consider "ballet-lite" or "in the style of ballet.") How much meaty classical dancing is in this ballet?

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. 

Just now, ABT Fan said:

Crap. But, I (and I'm sure others) had a feeling that would happen.

Who is going to replace him in Manon? That is only next week, so that may be inevitable.....darn.

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.