canbelto

It's a matter of preference but I'd say Tiler Peck, Sterling Hyltin, Ashley Bouder are the three you really can't go wrong with. Bouder and Peck as Dewdrop are magnificent.

The 2011 Nutcracker from NYCB is due to be released soon. Mr B's Nut is as "traditional" as they come. https://www.amazon.com/George-Balanchines-Nutcracker-Blu-ray-Ballet/dp/B01LP7CJOQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1478423750&sr=1-2&keywords=nutcracker+new+york+city+ballet

I loved the Apollo with the birth scene. I didn't think Isabella Boylston was acceptable as Calliope. Way too much muggy acting and also a sloppiness in form which took away from the clean geometrical lines of Balanchine. The ballet makes so much more sense. Also enjoyed Lil' Buck's jam session.

I caught two performances this season. I really loved Serenade After Plato's Symposium. Think it's a charming, pleasing ballet. I wasn't as crazy about the ABT's Prodigal Son -- IMO they simply don't have the on-the-note musicality for Balanchine. More thoughts here ... http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2016/10/abt-fall-season.html

I caught a slew of performances this fall season. My thoughts about some of the highlights here: http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2016/10/nycbs-fall-season-wrap-up.html

Also Ask La Cour is Peter's stepson.

http://www.nycballet.com/NYCB/media/NYCBMediaLibrary/PDFs/Press/Casting/NYCB-Casting_October-11-16-2016_Lobby-101216.pdf There's been more cast shuffling. Lovette and Janzen are no longer debuting in American Rhapsody. Lovette has also been replaced in the Friday and Saturday DAAG with Megan Fairchild (apricot). Megan was originally going to dance green, and Sara Mearns has replaced her as Green Girl. Finlay is replacing Ramasar as Green Boy (Ramasar is now doing Green Boy with the Thursday cast). Preston Chamblee is out of Glass Pieces as well, and he made a rather cryptic post on Instagram about his future:

The swap out seems to be because of injury to Adrian Danchig-Waring who had a prominent place in Unframed. He's been replaced in Dances at a Gathering on Thursday night as well. Taylor Stanley also is replaced in all his roles. Tyler Angle as well. Hope they are okay.

Danchig-Waring and Tyler Angle were both replaced yesterday in DAAG (by Amar Ramasar and Jared Angle). Teresa Reichlen's Firebird was absolutely amazing.

I think this is a turf war between NYCB's official photographers and Devin.Especially since Devin amassed an enormous number of followers on social media and also had a loyal group of dancers (from principals to corps) who constantly used his photos in their own social media. It's unfortunate how it's being handled though. Mr. B eventually made Steve Caras (a former dancer in the company) the company photographer. Doesn't seem like Martins is giving Alberda the support to pursue his interests.

I too saw both Jewels casts. I can't decide whether I like Reichlen better in Rubies as Tall Girl or as Diamonds. I loved the purity and elegance of her line in Diamonds, but I also love her iconic Tall Girls. I also disagree about Bouder/Veyette compared to Fairchild/deLuz. I think that Bouder's sass in the role is preferable to the cutesiness of Fairchild/DeLuz.

Bart, I think Isolde lies in a sweet spot in Stemme's current voice. She's 53 and the upper register isn't completely steady but the middle register remain warm and firm. I think the Met did justice to this opera (and they haven't really done much Wagner in recent years. Going for quality over quantity with Wagner is something I can get behind though.)

I saw several BA'ers at last night's Tristan und Isolde. I'd recommend catching it in HD, definitely. Nina Stemme, Stuart Skelton, Ekaterina Gubanova and Rene Pape are superb. http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-tristan-hits-right-chords.html

Hi I attended the four new works. Full thoughts here. I liked the Walker and Lopez-Ochoa pieces a lot. http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2016/09/fall-nycb-new-works-old-classics.html

Harrison Ball, Joseph Gordon, Ashley Laracey and Indiana Woodward (subbing last minute for Brittany Pollack) also made wonderful debuts in Divertimento.

I think it'd have to do with salary? If she's a guest artist I assume she gets the regular guest fee.

Not sure how to answer this, but the Balanchine choreography for the Garland Waltz is absolutely lovely. It's not similar to the Rat reconstruction at all. Patterns are much more circular.

I was there opening night. I think I caught them on a bad night but I also think the second block of ballets wasn't the best. Full review here ... http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2016/08/sarasota-ballets-sir-fred-steps.html

A few names seem gone from the corps de ballet too.

Look at the elevation!

Per Indiana Woodward's Instagram, Joshua Thew is also leaving the company. https://www.instagram.com/p/BIgAddcDk0N/?taken-by=indijones1218 Joshua Thew also confirmed it on his own instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BIf2-QtAtzH/?taken-by=jlthew

I was there last night. I admired the craftsmanship of Wheeldon who managed to compress a very complicated story into a 3 act ballet but found the choreography very uninspiring. Full review here: http://poisonivywalloftext.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-winters-tale-in-summer-festival.html

also david prottas: https://www.instagram.com/p/BH7OP3vj_44/?taken-by=davidprottas

Gorgeous sets and costumes, but anyone suspicious of the tight embraces between Odette and Siegfried? That seems very 2016 and not 1895.

Olivia turned 100 today and gave an interview in which she calls Joan "Dragon lady": http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-centenarian-olivia-de-havilland-opens-up-on-sibling-feud/