Terez

What devastatingly bad news. Heart just breaking for the remaining family and all their loved ones.

I saw it, as well, in SFB Miscellaneous, but both remained hidden to me until after I pressed "published." (LOL, that's always how it works.) It's easier to find this way on a reader's quick stop-by, at the least.

Sorry to hear this -- I was quite taken by his dancing and thought he brought a lot to each performance. Politically, however, I can understand a decision like this. But I'll miss watching him perform.

I'm not sure how I feel about dancers who dance for two high-profile companies. I like the exclusivity thing, but I know the dual-company thing is done a lot with ABT and many European companies. Am assuming this is a Rojo decision, and that we might (regrettably) see more of it. It seems to tie in with the guest artist thing, which, again, I'm not particularly crazy about. (Particularly when they cancel at the 11th hour.) I really just like to see "our" dancers because I learn more about them in each performance I watch, and it enhances/deepens my appreciation of what each dancer brings.

Noticing just now that there is indeed already an article about this -- I can't find the delete button, but admin, feel free to delete this since it's dupe information! I just caught this article in the SF Chronicle, published 8/23 by Rachel Howard, which took me by surprise: Two S.F. Ballet dancers file lawsuits alleging the company had ‘reckless disregard’ for their health https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/sf-ballet-lawsuit-injury-19715031.php In the event there's a paywall, here's the opening paragraph: Mathilde Froustey is the second ballerina referenced, from a 2023 filing. The article continues as one would expect it to (and corrects itself on 8/26 to state that Hummel is still a dancer with the company) but it also had this inadvertent news in the final line that, to me, was a shock and disappointment. Did anyone else see this coming? Maybe it's been posted on this site elsewhere.

OMG, this is so cute and so much fun! (I also absolutely love this part of the score, so I'm glad there was "front stage" footage as well as backstage.)

Whelp, there go my Friday plans in the city. Not interested in their casting change; Osipova is a tough one to step in for.

Me too - I love this ballet!

Wow, I'm not sure about a Frankenstein plus a later encore program of it. Did audiences really like it that much?! Can't say I like this encore business in general. I just can't make all the programs and I've always enjoyed seeing the final program late in the season. Oh well, new AD, new setup. Thrilled they'll be doing Broken Wings again. Wow did I love that.

Got the press release in the email and, wow, lots of new names. No surprise that the composition of the roster is evolving, with Rojo at the helm. I suspect we'll see familiar names dropped from the roster as well. I'm shocked, but pleased, to see that Dores Andre and Max Cauthorn will be returning (especially in the light of Angelo Greco's departure). Here is the link to the official roster: https://www.sfballet.org/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-25-Company-Roster_April-15.pdf Big shout-out of congrats to Kamryn Baldwin, Carmela Mayo, and Joshua Jack Price for their promotions to soloist!

Looking forward to seeing this on Sat 4/13 at the matinee performance! I was crazy about MADCAP and determined to not miss it.

Helene's allowing me to post a link to my review published at Bachtrack. You can find it HERE. So very hard this time to keep it to 800 words!

I love your in-depth review of the perfomances, Josette! I so appreciate that you took the time to get it all down, as well as your insight about the Merimee novella and how it fell short of that. Fascinating. It all makes so much sense, and puts a finger right on why, in my mind, the ballet fell short. I would have loved to see Joe's Don José -- I feel like it's a role that can be "meh" or riveting, depending on the acting skills of the dancers. I guess the same can be said for Carmen. I feel a little nostalgic, remembering Mathilde Froustey, the way she was such an amazing actor. Sarah Van Patten too. They would have kicked ass as Carmen and Escamillo, respectively. I second your thoughts on feeling like I could see Broken Wings again and again. Sure hope they repeat it next season!

I had the same reaction about the Doe, and getting choked up more than I'd expected. The whole thing really packed a surprising punch. PS: Anyone know why John Paul Simoens was used, when he's no longer a company dancer?

Absolutely loved Broken Wings which I saw on Saturday afternoon. Nikisha Fogo was just stunning, but I had the opportunity to attend an in-studio rehearsal run-through 10 days earlier that featured Isabella, and I agree that she was absolutely amazing. So much to love in this ballet. (Am currently writing up a review for Bachtrack of the afternoon's performance, so the bulk of my words have to go there first.) Carmen didn't do it for me, I hate to say. Very worthy dancing and dancers, and Sasha Mukhamedov with her solo, or, better put, her "kitchen knife pas de deux" was sensational, as were Jasmine's lovely arabesque lines and the way she handled the role of Carmen. But ... yeah. I didn't walk away from it and think "wow".