terrynyc

Well, I am not in the bashing KM camp as I think that it is still evident that ABT is one great company and if that is true then KM, at the helm, eeds to get credit for that too. If there were another AD people still would be complaining about casting choices, productions, etc.. It is painful when you have a dancer you have been following and would like to see promoted, get passed over. I'll bet it is painful for KM too. Still, he is weighing a lkt of things. Some people complain about taking on Whiteside, but I readily understood at least some of why he did. Whiteside has a flair and brings a new excitement to the roster and be is strong and I bet will just get better and better. Still, after all that I do so wish I was seeing V. Part or P. Semionova with Bolle tonight - that would be ballet heaven!

Frankly, I don't know what what some of the commentators are talking about. Last night's Swan Lake was, it seems to me, pretty much one for the ages - and evidently to the audience too, who were delerious. I didn't see Part (but after.seeing SB last year I declared her to be my favorite ballerina) and I certainly was disappointed in Semianova in T&V, but she was radiant last night technically practically perfection but also lovely in her relating to Marcello and vixen rather tban pure evil as Odette. She had many little.moments (watching closely through the glasses) that were rea)ly memorable. She and Part are both beautiful women and fine artists. Hammoudi still.seems to be recovering but the potential to be a great Rothbart is.apparent. Marcello and Semianova were magical in my opinion.

I am seeing Hallberg (Semianova) in Swan Lake on Wednesday. I am very interested to see if he moves me as I share many of the same reservations stated above. By the way, I just did a side-by-side comparison of Albrecht's Variation (on YouTube they have all three- each just less than a minute) by Gomes, Bolle and Hallberg. Though this is not a deep "acting" moment, you still see how all three create excitement with terrific technique and slightly different "attitude" approaches. I must say Hallberg comes off very well. But where Bolle and Gomes really excell (which this comparison does not show) is in relating to and working witb their partner. I see Bolle with Seo next Saturday night. Last year he was terrific wifh her in Romeo and Juliet.

It is so interesting reading these reviews of recent performances. It just highlights how hard it is to declare any performance the "best" when you are talking about these amazing dancers. I saw the famous Monday night performance with Gomes and Vishneva and certainly was blown away by it. Matthews, Gorak and Lane were all wonderful as well. Vishneva's Giselle was very detailed and moving in a real theatrical portrayel. Gomes is so precise and accurate in all of his moves. Still, it is hard to forget Bolle's more innocent characterization (past seasons). With Gomes, you defintely feel that Albrecht has done this before with other girls. He knows she will be hurt, but so what - sbe'll get over it. It is only when she dies and he has seen the consequence of what be has wrought that he suddenly is filled with remorse and is truly toucbed by her. Tbis interpretation also changes the relationship a bit with his servant, who now seems to be cautioning bim about coninuing on his cad-like path. Bolle's Albrecht, on the other hand, may not have actually done this scenario with other girls. His is more of an impetuous and spontaneous dreamer, who gets caught up in the moment and doesn't consider the consequences. The "cautioning" from his servant is more "this is a terrible idea" instead of "oh, no! Not again!". So which is better? It is really impossible to say. You are talking about two fantastic dancers who are also true dramatic artists. I feel that is true about so many of the ABT dancers. That is why it is so great to see more than one performance of a given ballet. Each one can give you a slightly different, but equally valid experience.

It is so interesting reading these reviews of recent performances. It just highlights how hard it is to declare any performance the "best" when you are talking about these amazing dancers. I saw the famous Monday night performance with Gomes and Vishneva and certainly was blown away by it. Matthews, Gorak and Lane were all wonderful as well. Vishneva's Giselle was very detailed and moving in a real theatrical portrayel. Gomes is so precise and accurate in all of his moves. Still, it is hard to forget Bolle's more innocent characterization (past seasons). With Gomes, you defintely feel that Albrecht has done this before with other girls. He knows she will be hurt, but so what - sbe'll get over it. It is only when she dies and he has seen the consequence of what be has wrought that he suddenly is filled with remorse and is truly toucbed by her. Tbis interpretation also changes the relationship a bit with his servant, who now seems to be cautioning bim about coninuing on his cad-like path. Bolle's Albrecht, on the other hand, may not have actually done this scenario with other girls. His is more of an impetuous and spontaneous dreamer, who gets caught up in the moment and doesn't consider the consequences. The "cautioning" from his servant is more "this is a terrible idea" instead of "oh, no! Not again!". So which is better? It is really impossible to say. You are talking about two fantastic dancers who are also true dramatic artists. I feel that is true about so many of the ABT dancers. That is why it is so great to see more than one performance of a given ballet. Each one can give you a slightly different, but equally valid experience.

I saw both the Opening Night with Kent/Bolle/Simkin/Abrera and the folloeing night with Vishneva/Gomes/Cornejo/Copeland. Both were amazing petformances - both were very moving. Bolle boasted a line that was astonishing. In his first afagio he cteated a sense of Time Suspended. Kent has an ability to just continue with her own inner life, gestures, etc. while Bolle and all the other men are lifting her and thtoeing her around - she just seems to be floating ad if nothing is happening. Vishneva brings more thratricality and thr the Pavanne, more sensuality. Gomez is always a model partner and impassioned hero. Simkin was excellent and Cornejo was certainly deluxe cadting ad the brother. It is nrarly impossible to say which is best. I have certain ahes fro both casts that I cannot forget.

We all have our 'fav's' at ABT and I am a fan of all the male dancers mentioned above. But I am very hapoy that Whiteside is now an ABT principal. He wenr through an incredible period these past few months debuting in one major role after another and succeeding splendidly, pleasing audiences and critics alike. Does he need to smooth a few things out? Sure, but I have no doubt that he will be in the ranks of Gomes, Hallberg and Bolle in a very short time. He brings a real excitement to the company. Bravo Whiteside!