KarenAG

Hello, Everyone, I hope you are well.  There is no link on the Lincoln Center at Home website for this ABT 5/21 performance. Glad there is a link here, but does anyone know what the problem is?   And many thanks for posting the link, Dale.   

On 3/27/2020 at 5:36 PM, miliosr said:

A few thoughts regarding ABT's - at times - precarious financial situation . . .

ABT was never as fiscally sound as the New York City Ballet in part because of an overreliance on Lucia Chase's personal fortune to get them through hard times. Eventually, the company did get serious about diversifying its fundraising but that was a late development compared to other companies.

In addition, various shocks over the past 30 years have compounded ABT's fiscal problems. The profligacy of the Baryshnikov era left the company so deeply in debt by 1992 that everyone thought the company would fold permanently. So certain was the expectation of an implosion that no one was willing to take on leadership of the company except Kevin Mckenzie.

As fate would have it, this kicked off a new Golden Age at ABT as McKenzie, starting with a base that included Julio Bocca, Alessandra Ferri, Susan Jaffe, Julie Kent and Amanda McKerrow, added such future bold-faced names as Max Beloserkovsky, Jose Manuel Carreno, Angel Corella, Irina Dvorovenko, Paloma Herrera, Vladimir Malakhov and Ethan Steifel. He also developed in-house stars such as Herman Cornejo, Marcelo Gomes, David Hallberg and Gillian Murphy.

Even during this Golden Age, though, ABT had to contend with various fiscal crises. There was the dot.com implosion in 2000 which hindered fundraising and then the much larger and more serious Great Recession of 2008. So, for every financial gain the company has made over time, it has also endured some fairly significant financial shocks which have often set them back for years.

One more point to make: Before anyone praises the New York City Ballet to the heavens for keeping its dancers on salary, let's not forget that in 2008 they released all those dancers they deemed expendable as a response to the Great Recession. ABT, in contrast, worked out an arrangement with its dancers so that everyone took a pay cut but no one lost their jobs. I dare say that the New York City Ballet's response in 2020 is in part a reflection of how much bad press it received for its actions back in 2008.

 

 

Miliosr, thank you for this perspective, which illustrates how companies variously respond to crises, depending on their personal circumstances, fortunes and leadership. 

On 3/27/2020 at 7:47 AM, nanushka said:

No, they weren't supposed to be laid off, but when the tours got canceled, the company laid them off for 5 weeks (beginning around the start of last week, I believe). Numerous dancers reported this on social media.

NYCB seems not to have laid everyone off, as the recent NYT article about the spring season cancellation reports. Unless the ABT dancers were using the term in an unusual manner, ABT's layoff likely entails no pay. (ABT does not have nearly the financial resources that NYCB has.) I believe the company has set up this Crisis Relief Fund in order to try to ameliorate that.

 

This is so very sad. What a terrible situation. 
 

On 3/28/2020 at 1:39 AM, MoMo said:

I think the government agencies are not prepared for the massive number of people who are applying for unemployment benefits. 😞😢

This is so true. My brother has to apply and he says its a nightmare. So sad. 

Agreeing with everyone here. I find this production to be grim and unattractive. I do like the swan’s tutus, and I love the dancing, but overall it’s a very dark and flat production. I have the same feelings about Martins’ Romeo and Juliet, Per Kirkeby having designed those sets and costumes, too. That said, I did find some good things to like about it, as I’m sure you will, too, especially O/O. I haven’t seen it in about five years and I will most likely take in two performances at SPAC this summer, especially if there are two casts, but it’s doubtful there will be two casts. 

On 1/12/2020 at 11:36 AM, FPF said:

SPAC has announced the 2020 NYCB season:  https://spac.org/calendar/calendar-of-events/?view=list&gen=2&utm_source=SPAC+Master&utm_campaign=e3983f31fc-EBLAST_2020ClassicalSeasonAnnounceNonMemb&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_506934f83b-e3983f31fc-217250197&mc_cid=e3983f31fc&mc_eid=bee1c0630b

Programs are:  

Martins' Swan Lake:  July 14 and 17th at 8pm, July 18th at 2 pm

20th Century Masters (Summerspace/Cunnningham; Piano Pieces/Robbins; Rubies/Balanchine): July 15th at 8 pm, July 16th at 2 pm

SPAC Premieres: Haieff Divertimento (Haieff/Balanchine); The Shaded Line (Tan Dun/Lovette); New Peck (Muhly/Peck): July 16th at 8 pm

Gala (In G Major/Robbins; The Man I Love PDD/Balachine); Rubies (Balanchine): July 18th at 8 pm.

I'm excited to see the Haieff, which I've never seen before, in the SPAC Premieres program and will probably also go to the 20th Century Masters Program. But on the whole, I'm not thrilled with the programming, especially the 3 Martins SLs.  I already bought a lawn pass for the five  $5 upgrades (not including the Gala), but I don't think I'll make the same mistake next year. They also usually have one orchestra program with some dance, but not this year.

Thank you so much for posting this, FPF.  Given there is Balanchine in two programs, I’ll probably go to more than three performances this year in addition to SL. 

I’m so sorry to hear about your ankle injury, canbelto. Here’s hoping your recovery speeds up. I’m sure it’s very demoralizing. Thank you for your interesting thoughts! 

This is a fun topic and I’m glad it was revived! My love of ballet began in the summer of 1980 when my future husband took me on two dates to see NYCB at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. I was 24 years old and hadn’t experienced much ballet at all up until then. How I wish I had kept my programs! The first date included Scotch Symphony and I do believe Suzanne Farrell danced the lead role. I was enchanted, I tell you! The second performance we saw that summer was Midsummer Night’s Dream and Patricia McBride danced Titania. Talk about being enchanted! And gobsmacked!  I’d never in my young ladyship seen anything like it.  Well, I was hooked and thus began my ballet education and long devotion to and love for the New York City Ballet. Over the next few summers I was to experience many of Balanchine’s, and Robbins’, essential works. 

So the five critical ballets in my life were: 

Scotch Symphony 

MSN’sD

Apollo (the old version, I think, before Mr. B changed the choreography to eliminate the staircase and other elements)

Concerto Barocco

and the Balanchine ballet closest to my heart, Symphony in C. I will never forget the first time I saw it. It was so thrilling and it was danced so perfectly, I nearly wept. 

I must also add a sixth, Mr. B’s one-act Swan Lake. Such a distilled beauty. 

For many years, the only company I saw was NYCB at SPAC in the summer, and, except for taking some adult ballet classes and reading a ballet history or two, that was my dance education.  I was going to college, working, and other life experiences took center stage. I felt blessed knowing that this great company was in my proverbial backyard each summer, and, at that time, that was enough. 

Fast forward to the 2000’s and I had 1. the opportunity to see more ballet, 2. the time and maturing interest to broaden my dance education through acquiring books not available in the library, and 3. the ability to learn ALOT through the internet, most importantly and critically, on YouTube, especially Russian and Soviet ballet. And I began to acquire a video and book ballet library, which gives me great pleasure. 

So I think of my ballet education and enthusiasm in two distinct parts. As such, I must add five more ballets that were critical in making me the ballet-lover I am today. 

Swan Lake (full-length - Russian performances on video, American stagings [NYCB, ABT] live).

The Nutcracker 

The Sleeping Beauty (Royal Ballet and Russians on video, NYCB live).

Serenade

The Firebird - NYCB’s. 

Giselle (ABT’s live, especially Xiomara Reyes and Sarah Lane; Ballet Nacional de Cuba live; Royal Ballet and Dutch National Ballet on DVD, and all sorts of video clips on YouTube, especially Maximova and Vasiliev). 

On 11/28/2019 at 9:34 AM, dirac said:

Thank you, Cristian, and tell us about anything you see in Berlin!

Gym time may have to wait until January.  The candy and fruitcake onslaught has already begun and likely won't let up till December 25.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Look forward to hearing more from you, KarenAG, and congratulations on your retirement!

Thank you so much, dirac.

3 hours ago, cubanmiamiboy said:

Hello all!!

Eat a lot, celebrate a lot, hit the gym gruelingly for the next week and everything will be fine..!! 

Much love from Berlin.

Cristian

Great post, Cristian! Happy Thanksgiving to you, as well. 

Happy Thanksgiving to our BA community who celebrate today. Now that I’m retired, I hope to post more than I have these past two or so years. Enjoy! 

Karen

8 hours ago, canbelto said:

So as I spend another Friday at home resting an ankle that somehow is healing on its own time (that is to say, verrry slowly), I decided to find some Edwin Denby and Arlene Croce accounts of her dancing and compare it to Alicia Alonso videos. Hope you guys enjoy it.

https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2019/10/alicia-alonso-written-word-vs-video.html

Greetings, Canbelto, I hope your recovery is speedy. Thank you for this, it will be great Sat morning reading with a cup of coffee. 

Rest in Peace, Ms. Alonso. 

Thank you, Nina. I haven’t been on BA, either, as I was out of the country. I appreciate uour responding to me. 

On 9/2/2019 at 9:37 AM, NinaFan said:

 Let's hope they make good use of the 2020 season since it's their last eight week season at the MET. 

 

Why, NinaFan? Is ABT’s Met season shortening? 

On 7/21/2019 at 11:30 AM, aurora said:

So they don't email people until the last second--and when they do it is to beg for money.

 

That is ridiculously tacky.

Exactly! I didn’t get ANY email.

9 minutes ago, FPF said:

Yes, Lovette was Waltz Girl, Le Crone was Dark Angel, and Pereira was Russian Girl.

 

Yes, I've been wondering if the cancelled performance and refunds will somehow be spun as NYCB not bringing in enough money. I also find it very discouraging that Sobel can't even convincingly pretend to like ballet for two minutes on opening night. This should not be difficult. 

I saw the notice by chance when I went to the SPAC website. No email.

Thank you, FPF. I’m worried about that, too, even said it to my husband at dinner when I heard of the cancellation. I only found out because my friend texted me. Wasn’t listening to the news, but when the six o’clock news was on TV, all I heard (I admit I was only listening with half an ear) was about the race track being closed. But by then I’d already heard about SPAC.  It would have been brutal for the dancers. I imagine it’s terrible tonight. But no email to subscribers? I get emails from SPAC every day!  

10 hours ago, FPF said:

I was pretty wiped out from the heat and late night on Tuesday, so I decided to skip Wednesday night and do a ballet double-header yesterday.  The matinee was the same Balanchine Tschaikovsky program as on Tuesday night and with the same cast. The weather was thankfully quite a bit cooler and there was a bit of a breeze, so it was much more pleasant. I sat downstairs this time thanks to a very nice woman who gave me her extra ticket.  This peformance looked to have sold very well, and this time, they did announce the cast substation before the start of the program. I thought Serenade was better this time--I enjoyed all three women (Le Crone, Pereira, Lovette) and Chamblee was much smoother. And I can confirm that Lauren Lovette was the blonde--it looks like the roots are still dark, but when she pulls it down, it looks very blond. I found the theme and variations in Mozartiana a bit of slog, although I couldn't say what was different in between the performances--sometimes I think that the matinee is better because you can see more, but I think the darker theater does help you to focus. Lydia Wellington was looking very good in the Menuet quartet. Finally, Teresa Reichlen gets my vote again as MVP--this performance of Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 was just as good as the Tuesday night performance and received a huge and loud ovation from the crowd.. Russell Janzen and Lauren King were also excellent, once again. I also particularly noticed Alec Knight as one of the demis. 

I came back last night for the first of the three Copppelias. Swanilda was Megan Fairchild, Fritz was Anthony Huxley, and Dr. Coppelius was Andrew Veyette. I've seen this a number of times over the past 30 years, and last night's performance definitely ranks as one of the best I've seen. Megan and Anthony were absolutely on fire, particularly in the wedding pas de deux.  Veyette was an unusually spry Coppelius. Baily Jones substituted for Sarah Villwock in the Waltz of the Golden Hours--she was great and the kids were both professional and adorable. Lauren King was wonderful as Dawn--she is so sunny and glowing. Emily Gerrity did very well in Prayer. Although she was otherwise very good, Sara Adams had a very visibly fumbled step in Spinner. I may be in the minority here, but I love Discord and War and Unity Phelan and Spartak Hoxha were wonderful.  I've said it before, but the wedding pas de deux was just brilliantly danced. On the whole, a great night at the ballet. This performance also seemed to have sold well and the audience was extremely appreciative.

I'm probably skipping tonight, although I'm kind of tempted to see Huxley and Fairchild again. I'd also really like to see the Bouder/ Gordon cast , but the heat/humidity tomorrow is supposed to be brutal. Ditto for the gala. 

 

Thank you for your reviews, FPF. I so wish I went up to SPAC tonight. I’m glad you enjoyed it and happy to hear about Megan’s and Anthony’s great dancing. 

Just want to weigh in on the one program I saw on Tues opening night and Thu matinee. I really enjoyed all three ballets and I enjoyed seeing them twice, which occurs with frequency at SPAC now due to the very short residency at SPAC. I agree with FNP about Elizebeth Sobol.  She seems to have no interest in ballet and her comments were perfunctory. And why didn’t Jonathan Stafford and Wendy Whelan come out and welcome the season? It was very disappointing. Is anyone having the feeling I am having? Is this the end of a 50+ year privilege? I couldn’t help but think this with the lukewarm welcome our beautiful company received.  The audience was responsive, I’m happy to say. 

I was in the balcony Tues and in the Orchestra on Thu. I think I got more out of seeing Serenade these two times more than ever.  I’ve seen it a number of times but it was very special to me this week. I was in awe of the patterns and choreography.  My eyesight plays tricks on me, though. Was Lauren Lovette Waltz Girl? And Megan LeCrone the Dark Angel? 

Likewise, Mozartiana. What a complex and provocative ballet.  I love the choreography in this ballet, too. The three leads were terrific and Sarah’s Preghiera was full of drama and gravitas, beautifully danced.  Daniel ‘s Gigue, the Menuet and T and V were wonderful, too. 

I had never seen Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto #2!  I just loved it. Although I read Nancy Goldner’s essay AFTER seeing both performances (kicking myself that I didn’t read it BEFORE), I appreciate the Petipa homage and traditional choreography, ala Balanchine. The dancing was terrific (the dancing the whole evening was terrific, in my opinion) and Tess Reichlen and Russell Janzen were just fabulous. The orchestra sounded great and I love the acoustics at SPAC. 

All in all, a great evening and afternoon, despite the heat. And a tribute to the variety and genius that is George Balanchine. 

On that note, I’m very sad about tomorrow, both for the dancers and for the attendees. I wish I’d known earlier that tomorrow was being cancelled; I think I’d have jumped in the car and driven up for tonight ‘s Coppelia. So I probably won’t see NYCB’s Coppelia for a long time. So sad. 

Did anyone get an email from SPAC re the cancelled performance? I didn’t. 

2 hours ago, FPF said:

Tomorrow afternoon's Coppelia has been cancelled. This is the first time I can recall NYCB being cancelled at SPAC due to weather. 

https://spac.org/event/new-york-city-ballet-8/

https://www.news10.com/news/nyc-ballets-saturday-matinee-performance-cancelled-due-to-hot-weather/

My husband and I are saying the same thing. This has never happened before. We are very sad and we were attending, but it’s better to be safe. 

4 hours ago, canbelto said:

Maria got injured at the end of spring season. Tiler Peck was out all of spring season with an injury.

Thank you for the update, Canbelto. So sorry to hear of these injuries 😔. 

On 7/1/2019 at 11:58 AM, nanushka said:

Sarah Lane rehearsing her rose adagio:

 

Thank you, Nanushka. I just love Sarah Lane. I find her dancing exquisite and measured. 

On 7/2/2019 at 3:10 PM, cobweb said:

Casting is up for the SPAC engagement. Nothing new in the way of debuts, except for Veyette as Dr. Coppelius. Also no sign of Tiler Peck. But, I am happy to see Adrian Danchig-Waring will be back to dancing Apollo. 

VERY disappointed to see that Maria is not dancing Mozartiana. I’ve been out of the loop a bit - I hope she’s not injured? I’m seeing both of those performances and one Coppelia, July 20 mat. Perhaps I should just stay there on Thursday after the matinee and see the first cast of Coppelia with Megan Fairchild. 

And is something going on with Tiler Peck? 

On 7/3/2019 at 6:06 PM, FPF said:

You can use promo code JULY4 to get 25% off NYCB opening night (7/16) tickets at SPAC. Promo code expires 11:59 pm July 7th.

Thank you, FPF, I received that offer, too, but alas, I had already purchased my tickets. 

On 4/12/2019 at 7:43 PM, KarenAG said:

Helene, I have been offline for quite some time, so I will contribute to BA this week. Thank you, as always, to you and our BA community. 

I just sent a check, Helene, to the Abbotts Station Drive address. Thank you. 

54 minutes ago, nanushka said:

There are some additional posts in the Spring 2019 discussion.

Thank you, Nanushka. 

I agree. 

Helene, I have been offline for quite some time, so I will contribute to BA this week. Thank you, as always, to you and our BA community.