mussel

Yes, the orchestra is vastly improved this year, especially the violins. I thought Mon night, there's a brief moment where sections of orchestra seemed to be disconnected from each other but it could be just me. A friend is regular Met Opera goer and she recognizes many of the Met Orchestra members also in the pit with ABT, may be that's the reason for the improvement.

Casting for the mix programme: Apollo M. Gomes P. Herrera M. Hamrick D. Teuscher Chamber Symphony J. Whiteside I. Boylston Y. Kajiya J. Kent Symphony in C S. Abrera E. Tamm V. Part C. Stearns Y. Kajiya D. Simkin S. Lane S. Radetsky Updated Le Corsaire casting: July 12 X. Reyes H. Cornejo S. Lane D. Simkin I. Vasiliev M. Ilyin July 13 2pm G. Murphy M. Gomes Y. Kajiya J. Matthews D. Simkin L. Ribagorda July 13 8pm V. Part C. Stearns I. Boylston R. Doble J. Whiteside A. Scott July 14 P. Herrera I. Vasiliev S. Abrera S. Radetsky H. Cornejo C. Salstein

The latest casting printout at the lobby lists Vasiliev for 3 SL on June 18, 20, & 22. His Blue Bird partner will be Boylston.

I agree, Colleen. Ashton's "Cinderella" is pure magic. The best. Why not an Ashton Festival? "Cinderella", "La Fille", "Birthday Offering". The possible list of ballets is endless. Dare I mention "Facade"? Does the Royal even do that any more? What are some others? Does anyone have a personal favorite? My definitive Cinderella is Ashton's, simply the best of all Cinderellas. The first time I saw it was when RB did it at the Met in 2004, ever since I can only live with the magic by watching the 1969 RB recording. I was so excited when it showed up in my crystal ball. I hope this is the "it" Cinderella for ABT, no more fooling around with other Cinderellas. As for other Ashton ballets, I really wish ABT could pick up Rhapsody, it'd be a perfect vehicle for Herman Cornejo, and even better if Baryshnikov can coach the role he originated. And the revival of La Fille and Thai PdP (perfect for the fall season).

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The corps member who scooped up the hazardous debris was Megan Johnson, she deserved a huge round of applause she received.

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Congratulation! A celebratory trip to St. Pete must be in order!

Excellent - now I wish they'd post Blue Bird pas. I am expecting Simkin's Blue Bird. Is it too far-fetched to cast Vasiliev as BB? I've seen some old Bolshoi footages where the BB's thighs & legs were as muscular as Vasiliev's

The full length Ashton will be Cinderella. ABT will tour Japan with Manon in Feb, 2014 and Diana will dance 2 of the performances.

The ABT web site calendar has not yet been updated for this. Does the posted casting sheet say anything about Cojocaru's Sleeping Beauty on July 3? That would be her only performance of the season if she makes it. The casting sheet at the lobby still lists Cojocaru's SB on 7/3 as of last night.

My prediction for 2014 Met season, partial almost complete list: La Bayadere Giselle Manon The Dream (part of all Shakespearean program) Company premier of an Ashton full length Cinderella It'll be Diana Vishneva's 10th anniversary with ABT next year. I'll fill in more when my crystal ball becomes clearer. Edited to add: Swan Lake Coppelia Don Q Edited to add a mixed rep program called Classics Splendor.

I'd be more than happy if Ashley Bouder were the replacement. There's a big portion of ABT audience who are clueless about what's going on across the plaza, Ashley would be the perfect vehicle to entice them to cross the plaza. And she's petit enough to partner Cornejo.

I agree with everyone to keep your ticket and Kochetkova is a fine replacement. Besides, there is not much good seats left in other dates to exchange your tickets to.

Slightly off topic. Shklyarov has been plaza hopping, he was sighted at the Met on Mon. for the Shostakovich Trilogy, at NYCB Tue., and again at the Met on Wed. for Corsaire.

The press release stated that Cojocaru is injured. I must have missed it. It seems very strange, does that mean she won't be able to dance her last performance in London with RB on 6/5?

Alina is being replaced in Swan Lake on 6/21, ABT gives no reason. I am wondering if the latest cast change and her leaving RB share any common factors.

I agree with everyone about the trilogy and it is an instant masterpiece, I hope they'll bring them as a whole during the fall State Theater season. Cali, the SFB will perform the trilogy between 4/2-13, 2014 as program 5: http://www.sfballet.org/res/pdfs/seasonbrochures/2014SeasonOverview.pdf

RB not-yet-updated castings still list Cojocaru & Kobborg in Nutcracker 12/24 & 12/31: http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/the-nutcracker-by-peter-wright her in Don Q 10/5, 10/8, 10/18: http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/the-nutcracker-by-peter-wright and R&J 10/22 & 11/14: http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/romeo-and-juliet-by-kenneth-macmillan

I was totally shocked as they had been cast in the upcoming 2013/14 season. I wonder if it's a last minute decision.

Is this the ad? This must be the French version:

The NYCB Beauties that I went to last February were all packed. I went to all but two, so the empty house must have been one of the two I didn't go.

Osipova & Vasiliev were at the dress rehearsal this afternoon, so all is well, her absence from the gala was just a pre-caution.

http://www.nytimes.c...r.html?ref=arts I don't how ballet friendly he is, but this seems encouraging: This year Lincoln Center Festival has zero ballet representation, it's such a letdown after RDB & Mariinsky in 2011 & POB in 2012. I hope LC invites at least one ballet company each year.

In the first seasons of Suits on the USA cable network, a big law firm secretary tried to bribe a partner into doing a favor for her boss with a pair of ABT tickets and succeeded. In one episode of Gilmore Girls, the character Emily Gilmore told her daughter that she's sponsoring a Russian dancer at City Ballet. And slightly off topic, there's a scene of Six Degree of Separation was filmed on the State Theater Promenade, where the characters played by Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland were so into a discussion with their friends during intermission that they were about to miss Swan Lake 3rd act. The reference to ballets on TV shows and movies are generally positive, the characters that like ballet are usually upper middle class and professionals.