nysusan

Don't get your hopes up too high Natalia, remember - it isn't saying much! Jean doesn't have much to do here but support Raymonda so it's a perfect role for Zombichenko! He is a big guy and a great partner so I was surprised that some of the lifts early on didn't look as easy as they did with Kondaurova/Korsuntsev. No disasters, they just weren't as smooth as I'd expected them to be.

There were a few minor bobbles - she listed off center several times during supported pirouettes but of course her partners reeled her in and those killer lifts that looked so effortless with K/K looked a bit effortful with K/I. She's also not a natural adagio dancer like Big Red, but those are minor quibbles. Her technique was more than strong enough for the role and she was charming and vivacious.

Last night's Raymonda was my first of this run so I can't compare it to opening night, but I concur with all the other posters (and great to see you all!) that Kondaurova was fantastic. I thought she'd make a great Raymonda and I'm glad I was right. Her clapping variation was tremendous, she really made the most of it. There is not much dancing for Jean de Brienne in this version, his main job is partnering and for me, Korsuntsev is the Mariinsky's best partner. He's also the only on on this tour who actually relates to his partner so I'm glad Kondaurova got him! The night's Clemence was Yekaterina Chebykina. She does a long adagio solo in the second act and she did it just beautifully with long, spun out lines and perfect control. Ernest Latypov was one of our 2 troubadours in addition to dancing in the 3rd act male variation. He is my favorite of the up and coming men but I also really loved the other Troubadour Evgeny Konovalov. He was slightly taller with beautiful stretched lines. All in all a great night and now I am looking forward to Kolegova

She was just lovely as the Sylphide. Beautiful, flexible feet in all the flat & demi point work, excellent technique overall and with beautiful arms and positions, although she didn't really dance in the Romantic style - no wafting arms, or forward inclination in the body - Hyltin was closest to the Romantic style. But Woodward's Sylph was very bright and playful. She exuded charm and confidence - you would never believe that she was only in the corps. And as much as I love Mearns (and I adore her) Reichlen is the one to see in TP2 - she owns the ballerina role now.

I was able to order single tickets when I renewed my susbscription. I think it was by mail. Don't know if that also applies to Trios but it is definitely a perk for full subscriptions

Thanks Natalia & Canbelto, sounds like good viewing for the train ride to DC

No Natalia, I've never seen the POB Raymonda, and I haven't been able to find a DVD. All I see is the Dancer's Dream DVD, which looks like a documentary with performance footage. Getting very excited about the DC performances!

I'm going to wait to cast my vote until after the Mariinsky's KC Raymonda run. I've seen the 3 available videos of the full ballet (Bolshoi with Semenyaka and Bessmertnova and Mariinsky with Kolpakova), plus the videos of Kolpakova in the pas de dix and the short Dudinskaya film. Live, I've seen the version Nureyev did for ABT (I think I saw Kirkland, Makarova, Gregory & van Hamel, but the only one I really remember is van Hamel - plus the AMAZING sight of Nureyev and Bruhn alternating as Jean de Brienne and Abderhakman!), the most recent ABT production (Part, Ananishvili and Murphy) and the Bolshoi production. I saw Allash with Volchkov and Gracheva/FIllin. The latter were fantastic, and Grachiva instantly became my favorite Raymonda. I remember crystalline technique coupled with lush, plush dancing - beautiful arms and very musical. She was regal, royal, majestic, but she also radiated warmth. Will be interesting to see how today's Mariinsky ballerinas compare to my memory of the Bolshoi's Gracheva, and what the Mariinsky production looks like live.

I'm skipping the opener but will be there 2/24- 2/27. Would be happy to meet at the Kennedy sculpture during intermissions.Since it looks like many of us will be there for the Saturday double header, perhaps we can get together for a meal between show at the KC Cafeteria?

How exciting! I'm in DC for the Mariinsky most of next week so unfortunately I'll miss those debuts but I'm looking forward to reading the reports!

abatt, I agree with everything you've said EXCEPT your impression of Hyltin in Symphony in C. Reichlin ruined Walpurgisnacht for me - a ballet I always love. Her ice princess demeanor and deliberate, measured movement took all the sizzle out of this effervescent concoction - like a fallen souffle. On the other hand, Mearns was divine in Mozartiana, Scheller was a joy to behold in 1st movement Bizet and Issacs & Gordon were just smashing in the 3rd. Even though Hyltin isn't tall, I actually thought that her body type was fine for the 2nd movement ballerina because she is so long limbed, and she has the technique for the role (although the sequence leading up to the 6 o'clock penchee was a tiny bit shaky) . It was her interpretation I objected to. This is one of those "holy" Balanchine adagios. I remember Wendy Whelan saying that dancing it felt like she was having a conversation with God (paraphrasing). Most interpreters bring a very other worldly feeling to this - mysterious or contemplative, sometimes looking very introspective, sometimes looking out to the universe. I saw none of that from Hyltin, her dancing was pretty but she mostly seemed to be directing her attention to her partner. I saw a lot of extraneous movement of the arms, shoulders & head which I interpreted as yearning, and twisting her torso to look at her partner. She turned it into a romance, which really trivialized it for me. I'm going to see the program again tonight so perhaps I'll like it better, or maybe (hopefully) she'll be more restrained.

In NY its only at Symphony Space, and showing on a Wednesday afternoon. They are showing the whole ROH ballet series on Wednesday afternoons. So if you want to see any of them you have to take a day off work. I'll probably do it for this program, but thats it. And then they'll wonder why they can't fill the theater...

Part & Annanishvilli both danced it in NY. I think I also remember Murphy in it. Even though it was definitely Raymonda Lite and the program notes did their best to downplay the cultural/religious aspect of the story (the insipid "its about a girl who has to choose between 2 suitors" - like any production anywhere ever showed Raymonda considering running off with the Saracen) it had all of the set pieces and I really enjoyed it. I doubt that we'll ever see it again - its too politically incorrect for today's NY.

My thoughts exactly. I've seen Kolegova as Aurora & O/O with the Mariinsky, also with them in Les Sylphides. I have absolutely no recollection of her in the Fokine but I didn't like her in the other two. Strong technique, beautiful face with those amazing slavic cheekbones but I thought her Aurora was cold and her O/O dull and unfocused. Raymonda is a role that I think may fit her to a tee, I can only imagine the hauteur she'll bring to the Grand Pas Hongrois! I can live with the KC casting. I didn't think we'd get Lopatkina but I was looking forward to seeing Tereshkina, so thats a disappointment. I'm out there Thurs - Sat and then rushing back to NY for Lopatkina's last night at BAM. So if the casting holds I'll see Skorik & Kondaurova each once and Kolegova twice. Very excited to see Big Red's Raymonda and also Bateova and Shapran as Henriette.

abatt, I agree 100%, it was fabulous! That was Friedman Vogel with Cojocaru in Lady of the Camelias, a dancer I love and wish we saw more of here in NY. The Ashton was Marguerite & Armand which she danced with Dawid Trzensimiech of the Bucharest Ballet. Issac Hernadez partnered Rojo in Black Swan and also stepped in for Osiel Gouneo with Sena Hidaka (Bucharest), which is why they switched from Diana & Acteon to Corsaire.I agree that she was not memorable, but she probably had very little time to prepare the pdd. I really loved Rojo's Black Swan. She was spot on technically but I also loved how seductive she was. I'm so tired of the pure evil interpretation everyone seems to go for these days.

Since I'm coming in from NY I went the opposite way. Bought Thurs - Sat (going back to NY Sun AM so I can catch Lopatkins at BAM). I may buy Tues and Wed if the casting is really great, meaning Lopatkina,Kondaurova or Tershkina, otherwise I am set!

When I saw that Copeland & Kochetkova were paired in Monotones 1 I thought they would be a great combination. 30 seconds into the Sunday matinee performance I suddenly remembered that neither one is an adagio dancer. As I was reminded during intermission, with only 3 people on stage and in those unitards the dancers are very exposed and every flaw is readily apparent but, really - neither one could sustain an arabesque without shaking. Very unfortunate. The Seo/Hammoudi/Han Monotones 2 cast was better, but they looked very ordinary, not the mysterious, celestial beings of the Part/Forster/Stearns cast. I was sooo happy to see the 2nd cast of Company B. Gabe Stone Shayer (Tico), Stephanie Williams(I can dream) and Cassandra Trenary (Rum & Coca Cola) were all amazing.

I've been going to see ABT do Fancy Free since I was about 5 years old. I never saw that section as being threatening until about 5 or 6 years ago. I can't remember if it was ABT or NYCB but that playful encounter had turned into a near mugging. It's really dependent on the staging, coaching & the dancer's interpretation.

I have to say that I pretty much agree with Olga. I liked the music for the Morris piece, but that was it. I found the costumes unflattering & uninspiring. The choreography was workman like, but dull. And slow. I love Monotones 2. I thought ABT did a pretty good job with it but there a few moments where the partnering looked a bit shaky and the movements were not 100% in sync . Nothing disasterous but not the completely smooth, effortless adagio this piece needs. Veronika did look gorgeous in it. Monotones 1 went off well, but its a lesser piece. Hopefully they will both improve with more performances. I enjoyed the Tharp. It brought a welcome dynamic after the sluggishness of the earlier part of the evening. I know both Monotones pieces are adagios - and I love that - but it turns out that starting the program with the Morris was not a great idea. In fact it probably should have been on a different program.

I agree that Peck was fantastic in last night's T&V. The speed, technical security and wonderful use of legato were all there but what impressed me most was the sense of joy she brought to it. Paradoxically, this may also be related to the only (small) quibble I have with her performance. For me this is one of the great, grand Balanchine ballerina roles and she didn't look very grand in it. More a princess than a queen, but what a great, exhilarating performance.

Its official! From Ashley Bouder's public instagram page: ashleybouderLast Swan Lake finished. And a new chapter beginning. #8weeks#cygnet #Bouderbump with @defl0 https://instagram.com/p/8IyB-1P__Z/ Congratulations Ashley!

Shades of Ashley Tuttle coming back to ABT from Movin Out (but I'm sure Megan will handle it better than Ashley did)!!!

Stella is one of the nominees for Dance Magazine's 2015 Reader's Choice awards. Cast your vote by 9/25: http://dancemagazine.com/inside-dm/your-2015-readers-choice-nominees/

The MC special sale ends 8/8, so if you check back on the 9th there will probably be more orchestra tickets available. They are also holding back 3rd and 4th ring seats again, for the whole season at this point. I hate playing that waiting game with them but this is what it has come to. On the bright side, if you are a subscriber your seat prices are locked in so you don't have to worry about dynamic pricing. You also don't pay the $7.50 per ticket service charge, although you do still pay the $3 per ticket facility charge.

Monotones II is one of my favorite Ashton ballets. I love it's other worldly serenity, it's minimalism and those long, fluid phrases. I feel like it's usually cast tall, and I'd love to see Part & Abrera alternate in the sole female role with some combination of Gomes/Stearns/Foster/ and another tall man. Mantei or Gray Davis would be interesting but unlikely casting for ABT - Whiteside or Hammoudi would be much more likely and they'll probably cast Seo in all the performances. I also like Monotones I. I don't think its in the same league as II, but it's a good ballet and I love the two of them together. I've only seen this cast short, and ABT certainly has plenty of short dancers now to fill those roles. I can see Paris & Copeland or Brandt & Trenary or Kochetkova & Lane with Cornejo, Simkin, Gorak, Lendorf, Cirio or Scott. Figures the one I'm most looking forward to is one of the few they haven't released casting for...