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lacdescygnes

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Everything posted by lacdescygnes

  1. I can only concur with Lena C. It was an amazing performance last night. Lane has truly blossomed and matured as an artist in the last few seasons, and she brings out the best in Simkin. Her Giselle was heartbreaking, and technically amazing, and his Albrecht a perfect match. Hurlin was a great Myrta, especially for such a young dancer. She has an amazingly fluid port de bras, so avoided the stiffness that plagues other dancers in this role. Beautiful jumps, great acting, she had it all. The corps was much better than in previous performances I have seen of Giselle at ABT - clearly, they have been doing some serious rehearsing, and it showed throughout Act II. The peasant pas was the only slight let down - Blaine Hoven was very good in his variations, but looked visibly tense partnering Betsy McBride, and she wasn't particularly musical or impressive, I thought. Overall though, a wonderful performance.
  2. I should thank Kevin McKenzie for allowing me to save money on ballet and train tickets, but I don't think I will... It's another head-scratcher of a season. First, La Bayadère - why only 4 shows and in the middle of the week to boot? I'd love to see Kim again, but it's not going to happen. If they are celebrating the ballet's 40th anniversary, wouldn't it at least warrant a full week of performance? That would also give a few ABT dancers the chance to debut or develop roles, in addition to the guest stars. The mixed rep - Theme and Variations, again? When they struggled through it in the fall season, and NYCB dances it? And I happen to like Fancy Free, but the work has a lot of detractors in the current metoo context. Couldn't they find something else? Also, NYCB dances that too, although I'm well aware it was created for ABT. It's been a while since they've done Company B, or The Green Table, or many other good works. Romeo and Juliet: 11 performances, and not a single cast I really want to see? I'm sure the Osipova/Hallberg show will sell, and I can see Trenary/Cornejo working well, although I would really have liked to see him with Lane. I wasn't a huge fan of hers, but she wowed me in Manon last year, and they are really great together. Giselle: a lot of puzzling casting choices, but Simkin/Lane might be the one ballet I make the trip for. Of course, they get a matinee... Swan Lake: 10 performances, and they couldn't give one to Brandt or Lane with Cornejo? Or maybe one of them will sub for Copeland for Act II... Good for Forster, Royal and Bell to get several debuts. ABT really needs new male principals! I too am surprised that Hoven isn't dancing more, when they have such a small roster at the moment. And he is miles better than Gorak as a partner. On the women's side... I don't know what to say. I hope Murphy comes back strong, and avoids injuries. For the rest... Boylston, Seo, Teuscher, Copeland all have serious technical and/or artistic limitations, yet they are cast in everything regardless of suitability and ability. But like I said, I'll be saving money if this continues...
  3. Well... casting Brandt or Trenary opposite Cornejo would make more sense than what they have now. I might have to give the Simkin/Lane performance a go - I haven't seen Hurlin enough to gauge how she would fare as Myrta. I'm very curious who will get the TBA opposite Murphy for her return - Stearns and Whiteside are both already dancing, so I guess a guest artist. Unless they're keeping the slot warm for Hallberg?
  4. Thank you so much for the detailed response! I think I'll go with Batoeva/Parrish then - I've never seen him, and I always welcome the chance to form my own opinion of dancers
  5. Is this the cast you would recommend seeing? I have seen Timur Askerov 3 years in a row at KC, and I find him a fine dancer, but not terribly inspiring. I admit I was hoping for Kimin Kim! I saw Khoreva last year in Corsaire, and she shows some promise, but maybe I should give her a few more years to develop. I liked Batoeva's Gamzatti a lot 2 years ago. So, who should I see this year? I'll only get tickets to a single performance - I'm not that much of a fan of Paquita, and NYCB tickets are eating much of my ballet budget for the coming season.
  6. I have tickets to both Bolle/Seo and Cornejo/Lane. I couldn't miss Bolle's NYC farewell, and I have noticed in past years that he really gets the best out of Seo (who with Stearns is indeed very bland). So I would go with that cast if I were to see only one, especially with the uncertainty of Cornejo being injured.
  7. Welcome, Bellawood! No squeaky shoes on Bouder last night either, and I was sitting very close to the stage (and noisy pointe shoes drive me nuts!) Agree with you on Jared Angle - there are some roles he should retire (anything shirtless...) but he remains a great partner and expressive dancer. Agree also on Miriam Miller, who has had technical issues more than once when I've seen her dance. I hope she gets a chance to strengthen her core and work on technique before tackling more soloist/principal roles
  8. I thought Rachel Hutsell did very well in the kilt variation. Laracey looked a bit tense at the beginning, but really got into the ballet and by the end was so gorgeous and poetic. Veyette looked tired and his jumps leaden. I almost dread seeing him as the Hoofer in Slaughter tomorrow... Overall, last night was a lovely night at the ballet! I wish they did Scotch Symphony more often - it's a fun piece, and I really enjoyed it last night. On the other hand, although I enjoyed Bouder and Janzen in it last night, I wish NYCB would give Duo Concertant a bit of a rest. I don't live in NYC so attend only a limited number of performances each year, but I think I've seen it 4 times recently! I loved Sonatine, which I had not seen before. Megan Fairchild really looks radiant post-leave, and Taylor Stanley has such a wonderful fluidity of movement, it was a really beautiful piece. But it seemed an odd programming choice to have it just after Duo Concertant, another piece for 2 dancers in blue costumes with the piano on stage... Finally, Stravinsky Violin Concerto was fantastic - speaking of potential promotions earlier in this thread, Aaron Sanz has really blossomed this season. I think he still needs another year as a soloist, but he is one to watch, for sure. I simply cannot get enough of Joseph Gordon - and Lauren Lovette was a great partner for him. Sara Mearns seemed to be having a lot of fun on stage, which isn't always the case, and really brought some contagious energy to the piece.
  9. Thanks for reporting on this. I wonder how many people may have changed tickets rather than see Ramasar perform and have a negative reaction. I know I did for next weekend after casting was announced
  10. I could only make the Tuesday night, and it looks like I lucked out - very excited to see Kim as Ali! Now off to read what the regular Mariinsky watchers think of Tereshkina and Shakirova. I didn't care for Kondaurova when I saw her as Nikiya last year, so I'm glad I get to see some other ballerinas. Although I would have liked to see Batoeva again - she was a great Gamzatti!
  11. My thoughts exactly... I love the book and am generally a fan of story ballets, but no way on this one! Too bad the casts aren't more inspiring - I was curious to see the ballet itself. I'll have to make do with Manon - can't miss the Bolle farewell (and he tends to bring the best out of Seo) and Cornejo the next day!
  12. The Kennedy Center is not helping TWB by having ballet subscriptions limited to the visiting companies. It strikes me as a rather odd arrangement. Because I get up to NYC often enough to see NYCB and ABT, I end up not subscribing to the ballet season at the Kennedy Center, although if I could have a mixed TWB/touring companies subscription I probably would.
  13. The casting sheets have yet to be updated for next week. However, on his Instagram, Adrian Danchig-Waring posted that Joseph Gordon would replace him in Afternoon of a Faun, debuting October 11. I expect that will be the case for the other performances that week (I have tickets for the Saturday matinee with Afternoon of a Faun as well as the DeLuz farewell that weekend). (Sorry for the lack of link, I can't figure out how to embed it)
  14. I fully agree. I honestly hope they don't try and promote more mediocre or not yet ready dancers from within their ranks, and go outside to recruit credible principals. The female side of the principal roster was boosted with internal promotions but I have yet to be impressed with Teuscher (pretty but stiff, boring, no arabesque to speak of or acting chops) or Lane (too inconsistent and one-note). Although I will say I was very impressed by Seo this year who seems to really have worked on her technique, so perhaps there is hope for one or both of them. Still, there are very few casts I would pay full price to see at ABT at the moment.
  15. Me too! I was planning trips to NYC for both these programs. Oh well... it's always a fine night at the ballet with NYCB
  16. Theo - I attended the Saturday night performance, and noticed the same thing. The bows were done "opera style" - all the cast on stage, no special curtain calls and no flowers for the principals. The cast was Grettel Morejon as Giselle, Rafael Quenedit as Albrecht and Ginett Moncho as Myrta. Morejon was spectacular, especially in the second act. Quenedit was OK - I didn't find the Albrecht variations as satisfying as the ones I'm used to in Paris or NYC, so maybe that was part of it. Sorry to report I never as stiff a dancer as Moncho as Myrta. I know the arm positions are different in this version, but the corps and Morejon didn't look as tense! The corps was very nice in Act II - a welcome palate cleanser after the mess that was ABT a few weeks ago! It was nice to see Alicia Alonso in person, although it felt a little forced to have to clap on command... I do hope NBC comes back to the US more often, and would agree that other ballets would be nice to see too.
  17. On the plus side, my ticket states clearly "with the Kennedy Center orchestra". So no canned music! My Giselle will be Grettel Morejón. Has anyone seen her perform this role?
  18. Savannah Lowery announced on her Instagram that this Spring will be her last season with NYCB.
  19. Adrian DW said on his instagram he was going to be on crutches for a few days... So there are casting changes for the rest of the performances, which are all the Robbins program (I’m going Sunday) Russell Janzen is subbing in for Glass Pieces partnering Maria K. Taylor Stanley will do Four Seasons. Looks like there was a bit of a domino effect or other injuries. There is now only one Fancy Free male cast (Mejia, Coll and Villarini Velez) while Daniel Ulbricht will dance in Four Seasons
  20. I found that Huxley lacked stage presence on Saturday night. Schumacher on the other hand has great presence. I would hope both he and Ashley Laracey (what a cute couple btw) get promoted soon. For the rest, I agree with most everyone- Duo Concertant was an unexpected favorite! The leotards in Symphony in 3 need to go but Lowery’s dancing was also particularly sluggish, particularly when she shared the stage with Sterling Hyltin. Until the Spring!
  21. This season is just disappointing. With the cost of the tickets and travel from DC for me, I’ll only make it to 3 performances including one I have mixed feelings about (Seo in Giselle but I can’t miss Bolle!). No regrets on anything else though - I had to weed through performances with Copeland to find one Don Q with Cornejo, so I’ll only see him once anyway. Thankfully the Cuban ballet is coming to DC!
  22. Nureyev, Nijinsky and Baryshnikov Yes, I pick ballets based on who is cast as the male leads... although I would have loved to see NYCB’s great ballerinas live too!
  23. There is more detail on the dates now, as tickets went on sale to KC members yesterday: Don Quixote (May 29 & 30)(Minkus/Alonso after Petipa) Giselle (May 31–June 3) (Adam/Alonso, based on Coralli and Perrot) I bought tickets to the Saturday evening Giselle performance, and orchestra was already sold at 50% when I did - looks like lots of people are excited to come to this! I've never seen the Ballet Nacional de Cuba perform, so I'm very much looking forward to it, even if that means lots of Giselle in one month after ABT's run!
  24. Copeland is cast in everything. I know she sells tickets, but...I can't picture her executing all the steps for Giselle, or Kitri, and we already know her Odette fouette record... I have to pick around her to see Cornejo this year, I guess... He is only paired with Lane for La Bayadere and Don Q (which should be very exciting) I'm excited about the Osipova/Hallberg Giselle too, with as the bonus the only Bolle appearance we'll get this season, although opposite Seo... Teuscher will have the chance to partner Gomes for Swan Lake - this should help her feel more secure and gain maturity in her characterization! Looking forward to hearing reports of Schevchenko's debut as well. Too bad Murphy has Hammoudi as her prince this year
  25. Thank you for the historical explanations, Drew - I'm always curious about why there are widely different versions of some ballets.
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