KarenAG

Oh, I'm so sad about Jenny and Janie leaving. The first time I saw Jenifer dance was at SPAC in Scotch Symphony as the opening Highland dancer - so beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes. And her Sugarplum was lovely. I have to say I haven't seen her dance a lot, however. But she's terrific, anyway. I know she teaches a lot and I'll bet she'll be dedicating a lot of her time to that. She's been involved in the summer arts scene up here in the Capital District, too. I just saw Janie dance LaSonambula and she was especially ethereal. I really like her dancing - i saw her dance In the Night a couple of years ago and loved her in it. I'm quite upset right now personally because my NYCB subscription has me at the March 1 matinee (same program as the evening program)!!!! So I'm thinking of changing but I bet I won't get the 1st ring Section C seat I have for the matinee if I decide to switch. HUMMMMHHH Maybe I should just stay on for the eve perf, although I'm doing that in January, too. I live in Albany so its difficult to stay for the evening and then come home so late on the bus, but I'm sure it will be worth it. Decisions, decisions..... I don't really have a good sense of Sebastien Marcovici's dancing and Jonathan is pleasing. Best of luck to all the retirees ~ Karen

Welcome, Lobelia. What a pretty 'handle'! There is so much here on this forum, I'm sure you'll feel quite at home in a short time. Enjoy! ~ Karen

all good comments and I'd forgotten that Olivier left his family, also. Thanks for the clip, Dale.

Thank you,Dirac. Although my post may not have reflected my sentiments adequately, I understand the complexity, especially as she also struggled with mental illness. I do think of the child who didn't have her mother, that's all, which is a fact of Vivien's extraordinary life. I understand that Vivien and Susanne did have a good relationship after she'd grown and also enjoyed her grandbabies.

It's hard to think about her as a person who did not have natural affection for her child, her daughter, Suzanne. Everyone always talks about her as the actress, the beauty and the star, but her unnatural attitude towards motherhood is, for me, hard to to accept.

What a great clip, Dirac! I love that scene. It seems to really capture her natural charm, both as a person and as an actress. She acts that scene wonderfully.

Ms. Vivien is one of my favorite actresses. She is, of course, most famous as Scarlett O'Hara, but I think her greatest film triumph is as Blanche. I've seen scenes from Sidewalks of London but not the whole film, so I'll keep my eyes open for it. Ship of Fools and That Hamilton Woman are also wonderful. How I wish I could have seen her on the stage! Happy Birthday to you, Ms. Vivien Leigh. ~ Karen

Sandik, thank you for the PDF of the dissertation of Elizabeth Kattner-Ulrich. I will read it along with other recent Balanchine offerings. Thank you, Sandik and Daniel - looking forward to reading this.

Oh, please do! Thank you.

Fun topic, Sandik. I subscribed again this year to NYCB and so I am looking forward to my first performance of the subscription on October 5. The program is three Balanchine ballets - La Sonambula, Prodigal Son and Slaughter on 10th. I've never seen Prodigal and adore La Sonambula, so I am very excited. And I'll be downstate in Westchester County on business week after next and so may take Metro North into town for the Balanchine B&W. I'd LOVE to see ABT at the Koch ( ooohh, that name!) with Les Sylphides and Tharp's Bach Partita but I don't think it's going to happen.

what a nice post, Bart. Thank you for sharing.

Absolutely breathtaking. Thank you, Helene, for posting this. ~ Karen

Thank you, Helene - I always forget about the live streaming option. Now everyone can hear this wonderful concert performed by the Albany Pro Musica and hear the reminiscences of Dr. Griggs-Janower's colleagues and friends.

Thank you for your comments and condolences, Helene and Dirac. For anyone living in or near the Capital Region and Hudson Valley, Monday night our classical radio station WMHT 89.1/88.7 will reprise a memorial concert performed by Albany Pro Musica last night on Monday, Sept 2 at 8 pm, EST.

Bard's Music Festival focused on Stravinsky. From the website: Bard SummerScape 2013 presents seven inspired weeks of opera, music, theater, dance, film, and cabaret. The hub of these offerings is the 24th annual Bard Music Festival, this year examining the life, work, and cultural milieu of the 20th-century Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. From ballet to chamber works, from sacred music to symphonies, the festival will explore Stravinsky’s long and illustrious career, along with many works by his contemporaries. Other highlights of the season include Sergey Taneyev’s Oresteia, an opera based on Aeschylus’ tragic Greek trilogy; a collaboration by Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and SITI Company celebrating Stravinsky’sThe Rite of Spring; a theatrical adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita; an adventurous film festival; and the return of cabaret at the Spiegeltent. It all adds up to a festival like no other—SummerScape 2013.

Hello, DanielBenton, I am not a dancer but the order which you put these DVDs seems good. ~ Karen

Hello, Friends, I haven't contributed in quite a while due to other commitments but I want to share the obituary of one of Albany's most beloved musical beings: David Griggs-Janower. Professor of Music at UAlbany and the founder of the great Albany Pro Musica choral group, Maestro Griggs-Janower was a great musician and a great heart. His great heart was evident in the way he conducted his choral group and also in the many letters-to-the editor to the Albany Times Union on many subjects that had nothing to do with music. We will miss you, David. Our hearts are broken here in the Capital District with your passing. Here is the link. You may also see him on YouTube. ~ Karen http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Choral-group-s-founder-dies-4760432.php Choral group's founder dies David Griggs-Janower, 60, mourned as Albany Pro Musica's mentor By Amy Biancolli Updated 7:26 am, Monday, August 26, 2013 David Griggs-Janower

Welcome, Gisela! Looking forward to hearig your thoughts and opinions. ~ Karen

I haven't read through this thread entirely, so perhaps someone has made this point already, but isn't the problem with bringing babies solved when every person must hold a ticket, regardless of age? I know this is NYCB's policy.

Last time I was in Saratoga, they used local ballet school students for Circus Polka, they didn't bring them from NY. I suspect they will do the same for Garland Dance. Why would transporting the Valentino costumes cost any more than any other ballet's, especially when you've got a truck loaded up anyway with other rep? My understanding of NYCB's practices at SPAC with students is that they do audition and select local students to perform, but SAB students almost always perform there. As for bringing the sets and costumes up there, NYCB performs all (or almost all) of its ballets at SPAC. Last year, a local newspaper article mentioned, when NYCB arrived in town, the number of trailers containing sets and costumes! Can't remember exactly, but it was something like, I don't know, 20..... Hi AlbanyGirl, I'm organizing a group trip to Saratoga for the NYCB weekend, so hopefully you and I might get a chance to meet! Hi Katherine, Just a Heads Up - I'm going to email you at your contact email on your Tours En' LAir website to perhaps make a plan to meet on Saturday, July 13, afternoon. I'll do this in a day or so. ~ Karen

Oh, Cristian, that's great news, you lucky devil ! Have a wonderful time (how could you not?! ).. ~Karen

Some brief observations about a most delightful day! I saw the DTH matinee today at The Pillow and they were truly wonderful. I'm feeling all aglow right now from the experience. The company danced Agon, Black Swan Pas De Deux, Alvin Ailey's Lark Ascending, Far But Close and Return, and the eighteen dancers very beautifully demonstrated they could handle this diverse repertoire. Agon and Lark Ascending (which was danced en pointe) were especially great. Agon had the look and execution of solid, good Balanchine technique and the dancers understood the piece (and should, considering its director emeritus); it was uplifting to see it performed so well. I was especially on the lookout for Michaela DePrince, seeing her for the first time and I liked what I saw. The centerpiece pas de deux was gorgeously performed by Alexandra Jacob and Da'Von Doane. The dancing in Lark Ascending was lyrical and poetic. Black Swan, performed by Ashley Murphy and Francis Lawrence, was so much fun and the choreography by Anna-Marie Holmes after Petipa/Sergeyev, was, well, exciting! Perhaps I can't help but feel excited every time I see that pdd. I was accompanied by two good frineds and their three 5 yr old grandchildren, and these kids were quite enchanted. I don't know much about Far But Close, an urban love story in dance, words and music (Allleyn/Beaty/Roumain), but it was great to watch and very moving, too. Return, music by Aretha Franklin and James Brown, is a blast. And shows how ballet can work with anything. You should see those dancers move to that ballet! To end, the dancers were terrific, with Ms. DePrince, Gabrielle Salvetto, Ashley Murphy, and Da'Von standing out in my mind right now. And they day wouldn't have been complete without my good friends, especially these children, enjoying this marvelous company!

Great news! The one I'm waiting for is his documentary on Tanaquil leClercq.....i

It is great that the house was packed, but $91 for a 4th ring ticket - that seems very high and I probably wouldn't have paid that, either. Last winter I was in NYC for a Saturday matinee and decided to stay for the evening performance. I think I paid $59 for my ticket in the 4th ring, purchasing it about two hours before the 8 pm performance - it was an almost sold-out event, too. So I guess what I'm driving at is - why $91 for one at a particular moment and $59 another? SingerWhoMoves, I refuse to call the the Koch, too! ~ Karen

Welcome and what an interesting topic, Swanilda8. I'm glad you're writing about it and I agree, it would be a very important read. We've come across the subject in a number of memoirs and biographies, most notably, Taper's biography of Balanchine and others regarding the NYCB tour to Russia. And Maya Plisetskaya talks about the Bolshoi tours in her memoir, although she was barred from touring in the first tours, I think, despite her fame. Those Bolshoi dancers were practically starved on those tours. Sinful. I hope you'll share some of your experiences in Russia with us. ~ Karen