ABT Fan

Well, this should be interesting. I'm happy to see them doing something different. I know that Cornejo was in one of her pieces last year at Vail and did some tapping. 

1 minute ago, canbelto said:

Brandt stepped in last year on short notice and was a wonderful Medora in Le Corsaire. Really disappointed that she didn't get a Kitri this year.

Agree 100%!

3 hours ago, its the mom said:

Agreed.  However, some of the men are "young."  Simkin is just right around 30, but he will have a very reduced role.  Lendorf is 28-29, but injured much of the time (or at least up until now.)  Cirio is 26-27, but barely used.  Schevchenko and Teuscher are still under 30.  And the two soloists behind them, Trenary and Brandt are mid-20's.  However, most of the other soloists are either in their 30's or approaching 30, not leaving much time to develop as principals.

Yes. The male soloist roster isn't very young. I believe Royal is about 28 (?), so I sure hope they don't let him lag about without the necessary opportunities to move him forward.

Copeland has been center stage for a few years now, so this isn't a new development, not that that makes it any easier to swallow.

I'm surprised that Boylston is in everything, and that she was also given Harlequinade. As I wrote on another page of this thread, I also thought Brandt would be cast.

And, I can't believe that I just noticed, but Abrera isn't cast in Bayadere this year. She's always done Gamzatti.

It'll be interesting to see how Abrera's and Murphy's retirements (or "retirements") are handled when the time comes (I'm betting next Met season for at least one of them). I can definitely see Abrera getting "the Part treatment". Murphy has been a favored principal for a long time, so I think she might be able to go out on her own terms, but as others have mentioned upthread, we've seen other favorites not treated well. The female principal roster is really full right now, so I can't see Brandt or Trenary getting promoted until Abrera or Murphy retire. There won't be enough principal roles to go around. I don't think that's an issue this year as Brandt/Trenary aren't quite ready yet, but next season if one/both of them are given a major debut, and succeed as expected, the AD will need to make room. Just like last year.

14 hours ago, miliosr said:

And the 'Stars -- They're Just Like Us!' feature replete with a photo of someone doing something mundane (i.e. Sara Mearns pumping gas.)

How I positively hate those.

3 minutes ago, angelica said:

Do you remember who her partner was?

Gomes! It was his 20th anniversary celebration performance. 

Thank you California. I'll look out for the various things you mentioned when I see this next weekend. Re: Baca. I really liked him when he was in the corps at ABT, and am eager to see him in a principal role, but I've honestly hard a hard time imagining him carrying a ballet. I've been hopeful for a growth spurt of sorts. Doesn't sound like that's happened. 

7 hours ago, pbl said:

Hi everyone-

I haven't been able to make it to ABT in a couple of years, and I have a few questions for the group:

1) Which principals and soloists should I aim to see, having been away?

2) Which performance of Harlequinade should I aim to see?

3) Which performance of Whipped Cream should I aim to see? And, for those who have already seen it once or twice, I'd appreciate your thoughts on the ballet itself.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, opinions and advice! Paris.

Casting suggestions are of course very subjective, so I can only give you my opinions.

My suggestions:

Lane in Giselle. It's a Wednesday matinee, so may not be possible if you work weekdays. I'm taking the day off to see it. If you read the Giselle thread from last year, you'll see many of us talking about her triumphant and extraordinary debut in that role last year.

Murphy in SL (though her prince is an unfortunate choice), and DQ (Espada in her perf's is a newly promoted soloist, Royal, who is amazing). She's in her late 30's so she might not be dancing for many more years, so see her now. Though, she gets injured often so buyer beware.

I also agree with others above regarding Lane/Cirio in Harlequinade. Lane was also terrific in Whipped Cream, though I suspect Brandt and Trenary are too (two extremely promising soloists). WC is a charming ballet. Incredible sets/costumes. I didn't care for the music though.

7 hours ago, pbl said:

Hi everyone-

Where do I go online to find the casting for SL? How do I know when casting comes out for future performances and how do I search for it?

Can anyone share recommendations for which dancers to try to see? I have been away from PAB for two years and with all the turnover I'd love to hear opinions on who to see. I've only seen one performance since coming back and I was really impressed with Alexandra Hughes. Please let me know who else to look out for!

On their site, go to the ballet/program you want to see and next to that it'll say Buy tickets, Learn More, and Casting. If there is no Casting button then it's not announced yet. Casting is there for SL. http://paballet.org

I've not seen the company much, but I'm going to see Sterling Baca. He was in the corps at ABT till he decamped for PA a few years ago for a principal contract. He had great promise at ABT and some of us here feel his loss and believe he would have been promoted soon to soloist. So, I'm eager to see how he's developed since then.

From Cassandra Trenary's Instagram, it looks like her husband, Gray Davis (the subway hero....), may be leaving after the Met season to become the new Artist in Residence at The Georgia Academy of Dance and the Performing Arts. She says that he starts in the Fall and I'm assuming that's a full-time job.

That aside, thought I'd pose the question of who do we predict will be promoted (or hope to see) at the end of the Met season this year?

My money is on Shayer. It'll be inexplicable if he's not.

They need more female soloists, and I think Hurlin is in the running. Also, maybe Waski, if her Myrta debut is successful.

I don't expect anyone to be promoted to principal this year. I wouldn't be surprised if they hire a male principal at the end of the season, though.

Thanks abatt. I don't follow Broadway closely, and I thought the show was already well under way.

Pollack and Ramasar are also in the cast: http://carouselbroadway.com/#bios

Also, I thought Craig Salstein was supposed to return for the Met season, after his leave for Carousel. Anyone heard?

Maybe he'll take one, or both, or the TBA's for Mercutio. His Hilarion last year was outstanding.

Brandt is debuting as Gamzatti this season (same as Trenary), but yeah I still wish she was getting a little more.

There are still two TBA's for Mercedes. Paris will still be out on maternity (I'm assuming), and she's normally cast. So, maybe Brandt will get one.

Brandt has been cast at the last TBA Maiden in Firebird on May 23, 25 according to the Met Opera's website. (Still TBA on ABT's site, of course.)

NYCB doesn't do two months straight of nearly all full-lengths like ABT's Met season. When NYCB dancers dance twice a week it's in shorter ballets, with the infrequent exception like Coppelia or R&J or Nutcracker. Carrying a two-hour ballet week after week (after week) is a different animal.

10 minutes ago, LadyBubbles said:

So Copeland and Boylston are dancing every full-length ballet. That plus Firebird, which means they're on every single week, and most of the time they're on twice a week. Wow, good luck...

Yep. Though, Teuscher is right behind them and frequently cast twice too; the only ballet she's not cast in is Harlequinade. Shevchenko is close behind Teuscher. 

2 hours ago, nanushka said:

Great to see Hoven, Forster and Shayer getting leads!

But Hammoudi still...why? That ship has sailed and sunk.

Yes to all of this!

Instead of Hammoudi, it should have been Royal.

I really thought Brandt would be cast as Columbine too (instead of Copeland).

It'll be good to see Lane/Cirio together; will they have chemistry? I hope so; it would be good for both of them if that partnership takes off.

This will be Shayer's year. With all of the leads and secondary leads that he's been getting, especially since last year, he has to be promoted this summer.

13 hours ago, dirac said:

Allison Janney! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

 

I didn't see I, Tonya, but I was still thrilled that Janney won. She's been a favorite of mine for years. I always thought she gave such intelligent and un-selfconscious (is that a word?) performances. And, I love the quirky roles she's done.

I wonder if Gomes has been able to keep himself in top performing shape? Or, maybe the better question is how has he been able to? I can't imagine he'd take on that gig if he wasn't sure he'd be in top form, but, then again, maybe he signed up for this before he resigned from ABT. Taking class everyday doesn't cut it. If anyone attends this on March 18, please report back.

Poor David. I hope he recovers quickly. He's still listed to dance next Friday with Osipova, but I highly doubt that'll happen. Calf pulls take longer than a few days to heal and I can't imagine he'd want to take any chances given what he's been through, and with all of required jumps in Act 2.

1 minute ago, nanushka said:

Has there been any confirmation (e.g. announcements of other engagements) that his pulling out of other Met 2018 dates was in fact due to a desire to perform elsewhere around those times? I hadn't heard any specific follow-up after that happened.

I haven't seen anything yet, and I keep checking. In fact, I looked at the Australian Ballet's site yesterday to see if they had released casting yet for their July Sleeping Beauty. Nothing yet, but it's really early. I have a feeling that he'll do one or two shows with them, like he did last year, as he's a permanent guest artist with them. That's my bet on why he pulled out of W.C. in July. As for Bayadere in May, who knows. Maybe he realized that role is too grueling for him now.

2 minutes ago, nanushka said:

I'd put my money on Copeland, who dances with Cornejo on Monday. That seems to me a likelier bet for a replacement, assuming Cornejo is up for three Giselles in five days.

Though I do understand you said "should," to which I agree!

That would only be two Giselle's for Cornejo. He's paired with Copeland once, and that's it. Lane has her Giselle matinee with Simkin.

If ABT waits till the last minute to update the casting (if Hallberg/Osipova cancel), I doubt they'd put in Copeland only because her fans won't have time to get tickets (or they'll already be sold out by then). And, I think they're very concerned about her fans.

If Hallberg cannot dance Giselle at the Met, unless ABT can get Polunin, I'll bet that Osipova will pull out.

If this happens, they should give Lane a second show paired with Cornejo.

Was von Aroldingen a Repetiteur? I guess that pays very well to have an apt like that. Or, perhaps her late husband had money. What a lovely apt.

Is it customary at the Royal Ballet for the stand-by dancers to be waiting at home by the phone?? Shouldn't Ball, or someone else, have been at the theatre?  

Kudos to him for stepping in, and maybe he lives next door to the theatre. But, I can't imagine running down the street with tights in hand.....