nysusan

With the exception of Red Angels I’ve seen everything on all 3 of the programs & they all sound great to me. Especially the Balanchine Portrait program – what I would give to be able to see all those pieces together on one program in NY! To start with Serenade & end with Bizet and have Concerto Barocco & Duo Concertant in the middle – it’s the stuff dreams are made of! They are all masterpieces. So are 4Ts and Div 15. The Robbins is also very, very good.

It is annoying that they didn’t program any Balanchine for the gala, but his works do account for the overwhelming majority of the engagement. I’ll bet they are looking at the Gala as a showcase of post Balanchine choreography. The Martins work is one of his best, and After the Rain is my undisputed favorite work since the Balanchine/Ashton /McMillan era. I’d consider it a must see despite the lack of Balanchine on the program that evening. Also note that the gala is the last night of the engagement, perhaps they are hoping that people will come to one of the first bills for Balanchine and then add on a ticket for the Gala to see where his legacy has led the company...

Akk! Just realized -- I have to get tickets for the Ashton mixed bill on Wed, June 21 and Sleeping Beauty on Thurs, June 22 to make this work. Does anyone think I'll have problems getting tix to SB on its opening night? (and what time does that darn box office open because I can't find that info online?) Thanks!

Chauffer, you shouldn't have a problem getting tickets for those nights, at least not yet! The Kennedy Center’s online system lets you chose the section you want to sit in and then tells you exactly which seat it is offering you. The only problem with using the system is if you’re picky about exactly where you want to sit (like me). I like to be in the first row of the balcony, even if it’s on the side. But the online system assigns center seats first, so it may show me D103 when I’d rather have A15. In that case, it’s better to call the box office where you can specify what you want and be told about everything that’s available.

The box office opens at 10 AM. If you are willing to make a $60 donation to the Kennedy Center you can buy your tickets NOW because Kennedy Center members get a 10 day window before single seats go on sale to the public. That’s what I did, I ordered my tickets on 3/31, and got great seats. Good luck!

Bart, when I saw the topic description, before I'd read your first paragraph, the image that came to mind was Serenade. SO I guess I have to agree with you.

That was my immediate reaction, too! There are many, many ballets that I love but Serenade is the only one where the opening tableaux is so ravishing that it takes your breath away every time, no matter how many times you've seen it

I think it's great that NYCB is touring more lately, they really should be seen by as wide an audience as possible.

Looks like there may be a mini ballet boom in Chicago this winter. Ardani Artists plans to present the Kirov at the Aud in early November, something like the 1st - 5th. Will too many choices complicate matters, or do you think it's a good thing for the Chicago dance scene?

I can't understand why he [Hall] wasn't promoted to soloist with the recent Group of Nine.

It could just be that his breakthrough performances were too late in the season to make the promotions list.

Scheller, Hyltin, Peck

Very nicely matched "small" trio of Apollo Muses, NYSusan. But do you think the Terpsichore of this trio might be Sterling Hyltin? Perhaps I'm being overly influenced by her lyrical performance in Divertimento 15, and that arabesque:

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/arts/...-arts-headlines

drb I agree that Hyltin is a very lyrical dancer and would make a lovely Terpischore but Scheller has such a gorgeous quality to her dancing, and such beautiful phrasing that I decided it's her Terpischore I'd like to see. With Peck as Polyhymnia and Hyltin as Calliope. Scheller is another case where I don't understand why she wasn't among th new soloists...

Sticking with a young Apollo, the Muses I'd pick for Hall would be Reichlen/Hyltin/Scheller.

Each would look good with Hall, but I think there's too much height discrepancy between Reichlen on the one hand and Hyltin and Scheller on the other to make a good trio of muses.

Agreed. Reichlin, Bar, Krohn with Hall and Scheller, Hyltin, Peck with Tyler Angle?

I'm with drb here. Hall has not only the intensity but the elegance & partnering skills .. but perhaps not quite yet.

Me too. Hall is #1 on my wishlist as far as NYCB Apollos go. He'll be ready soon provided he gets a few more meaty roles in the next couple of seasons. I think an Ask LaCour Apollo is inevitable at some point, and I think he'll do very well. As for dancers who are ready now - I hadn't thought about Neal in the role, but why not? He's the most classical of NYCB's current male principals. I'll be rooting for Evans & Woetzel though. I know they're not likely to be cast, but I'd love to see it

I haven't seen Orpheus or Prodigal Son enough to have strong feelings about casting. I've only see Orpheus once recently, and I agree it looked very dated. Almost Grahamesque (don't get me wrong, I love Graham but not when channeled through Balachine). Not sure what it would take to reinvigorate it.

I never saw Taranda live but he sure is amazing on those Raymonda tapes. I think the Russian companies have an edge here, because they do seem to still have separate niches for character dancers. Best I've ever seen live was the Bolshoi's Yulianna Malkhasiants as the gypsy in Don Quixote. She took the audience along on a totally over the top emotional roller coaster of a solo and made it believable and compelling throughout.

I went to the box office yesterday to buy tickets for the 5/5 performance and there were only a handful of tickets left. Just a heads up for anyone who's thinking about going...

Susan

Rats! I just tried to order tickets for ANY of the shows for DD & friends, but they are SOLD OUT, with the exception of 1 ticket available for the Saturday 2 pm show!

All may not be lost if you don't mind taking a chance. I showed up at the theatre last night at 6:30 expecting to just buy a ticket for a 7 pm show. They were completely sold out with the exception of 2 obstructed view seats. However they suggested that I put my name on the waiting list for cancellations, which I did. It's kind of a pain because they don't release the seats until ten minutes before show time, but there was only 1 person on the list ahead of me and I got a great orchestra seat (they must hold some house seats till right before the curtain).

Good luck!

Just returned from the New Vic myself & couldn’t agree more, it was such a treat to see Danny again!. Artifice wasn’t the type of piece I really like but it was interesting. I really enjoyed the last piece they did to Earth, Wind & Fire, and of course Desmond Richardson’s solo was great. My biggest problem this evening was tearing my eyes away from Tidwell & Richardson. It wasn’t fair to the other dancers, but those 2 are both absolutely extraordinary artists.

I usually think of March in NY as a dance drought between NYCB & ABT seasons, but not this year. There may not be much classical ballet around, but there’s been just too much dance for me to even get to here lately. From the Perm Ballet in NJ to Paul Taylor at City Center, Millipied’s concert group,Mark Morris at BAM, American Repertory Ballet at Symphony Space and Puuccini Passion I can barely keep up. I’m glad I made time to see Complexions tonight, it was well worth it.

Sleeping Beauty - 1890 version

( 4 hr - 15 minutes in length)

Sunday, 19 march 2006

Mariinsky Ballet with Guest Alina Cojocaru as Aurora

Quite simply, last night's spectacular performance of the 'new-old' 'Sleeping Beauty,' starring the Royal Ballet/UK's Alina Cojocaru, was the greatest night of ballet-viewing in my fifty-odd years on this earth. The apogee of glory. The zenith of my existence.

Wow, that is high praise indeed! What an experience to see the old/new Beauty in the theater for which it was created. Sounds like the performance of a lifetime. It's great to hear how well the festival is going and as a side note, that Pavlenko is back!

Thanks for the wonderful reports & please keep them coming!

Are you saying that there is a DVD available of this performance? I did a search and didn't find anything. If there is a DVD available, could you please give details...I would love to see it!

It was out on VHS at one time but I don't think it's been released on DVD.

The VHS has been out of print for ages, and no DVD yet. But the recording does exist so we can hope that there will be a DVD someday. Every once in awhile you can find a used copy on ebay but they typically cost $60 - $120 or so. Big bucks for a grainy VHS

Back to the question at hand - Giselle is one of those ballets for which I couldn't even name a favorite, I've seen so many wonderful pairings.

fandeballet - Misha & Makarova were definitely a favorite pair of mine, but so were Misha and Gelsy in the same time frame. And, as much as I loved them I also loved Fonteyn/ Nureyev, Fracci/Bruhn and more recently - Ferri/Bocca and McKerrow/ Steifel

I have rarely ever seen a film or video version that compares to a live performance but there is one I cherish on an out of print VHS series called "Russian Ballet, The Glorious Tradition" . Volume 3 includes (among many other treasures) the 2nd act pas de deux by Maximova and Gordeev. It is my favorite filmed version, I even prefer it to the Makarova/Baryshnikov tape. She is so light, so grave & beautiful that you really believe she is a spirit, and it never fails to move me.

I'm (finally) going to catch Vishneva with Malakhov this spring, and I'm also going to see a few of the Kirov's performances in DC in June. So I may have some new favorites to add to the list soon!

There were "Ardani Artists" brochures available in the lobby at City Center during the Kings of Dance performances. They listed the upcoming North American bookings for their clients, including the Kirov Mariinsky ballet. In addition to the OC engagement it mentioned Chicago, Ottowa and Boston engagements in late October/early November 2006. There was no mention of repertory (with the exception of OC) or casting, but one can hope...

edited to clarify: There was no mention of Vishneva, I'm just hoping that she will be included on the Kirov tour. Here are dates & venues from the brochure:

Orange Co. Performing Arts Cntr, Segerstrom Hall,10/17 - 19 Romeo & Juliet,10/20-22 Swan Lake

National Arts Center, Southam Hall, Ottowa, Canada 10/26-29 (no rep listed yet)

Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, 11/1-5 (no rep listed yet)

Wang Center, Boston, 11/8-12 (no rep listed yet)

Susan

I, too have been so glad to see Craig Hall cast more this season. I was very disappointed knowing that I would miss his debut in After the Rain. I saw it again at the Saturday matinee with Marcovici and am convinced that it's the best ballet I've seen since Balanchine (my favorite anyway!). Too bad it's not in the rep next season. Every single person in the cast was just perfect in this - each of the 6 dancers was amazing in their own right, but during the first section you never had the sensation of not knowing where to look first - it was all perfectly harmonious. The musicians were also exceptional. I think this is one of those all too rare occasions when a great choreographer was inspired by great artists and great music. It was perfection.

Hall was mesmerizing in The Cage on Saturday afternoon - he is so striking yet so understated, never upstaging the flow of the drama. I was sitting 1st row center in the 2nd ring and did not notice a taboo on his chest, and let me assure you I spent plenty of time staring at his chest! Somogyi was very good as the Novice, but nobody can compete with Wendy in that role. I've also been happy to see Rebecca Krohn getting some featured roles this season - she was great as the Queen, with wonderful presence. Perhaps another "tall girl" in the making? Around the middle of The Cage it occurred to me that I was also going to see The Lesson that evening - an unfortunate coincidence in programming that I will make sure never to repeat!

My season ended with Saturday afternoon's Bizet, a brilliant image to keep with me till next season. I loved every minute of it. Sylve's adagio is very different from Whalen's. As other posters have mentioned there is a real sculptural quality to her movements, and a magisterial air. It was a great close to a great season.

I bought tickets to all 4 of these NY performances when they were first announced because Jeune Homme is one of my favorite guilty pleasures and I didn't want to miss any one of these great dancers in it. With the substitution of The Lesson I regretted my initial enthusiasm a little but not entirely, because I could have watched Kobborg's Faun and Tsiskaridze's Carmen 100 nights in a row. I especially loved Tsiskaridze. I can see why he's so controversial, but he won me over completely. His line, his high, easy extensions, the expressive arms and back and above all his artistry really floored me.

I have some reservations about the program, but my overall response was very positive. I thought it was so interesting to see these 4 extraordinary dancers perform in works of their own choosing, pieces that in most cases were very different from what I’d guess they usually dance with their home companies.

Though I thought Stiefel & Corella were both wonderful I was most impressed by Kobborg & Tsiskaridze. I’d seen them both before, but only once or twice each and I always felt that the material I saw them in didn’t show the full range of their talents (Tsiskaridze with the Bolshoi last year in Pharaoh’s Daughter & Bright Stream, Kobborg with Cojocaru in the Royal’s Cinderella as well as in a couple of gala performances with her). Of course, the fact that their solos were much much stronger than Stiefel's and Corella's may have been a factor, too. Faun & Carmen were unforgettable, and really showed both dancer’s unique attributes to great advantage

I think The Lesson was a poor choice for this program. I understand that it was a last minute substitution and it may be fine on your average mixed bill, but when it’s the only narrative dance of the evening and the only piece to include female dancers the misogyny on view is pretty shocking. Despite disliking the material the differences in interpretation Kobborg, Corella and Tsiskaridze each brought to the role of the teacher was fascinating to watch. Kobberg's approach was the most naturalistic, you could tell that he had a strong theatrical background. His teacher was very nerdy, a real social misfit, and very, very scary from the start. He seemed barely able to look the student in the eye until he snapped. Corella was equally effective but different. This character is just such a stretch for him, so alien to his sunny persona that it was riveting watching him in the role. He was kind of like a cross between Snidely Whiplash and Peter Lorre - scary, but over the top campy at the same time.

Tsiskaridze danced it at the last performance and his approach was the least nerdy and the most sexual. His teacher was a misfit, but an arrogant, controlling one with uncontrollable desires- a lethal Svengali. In his bows he really bent over backwards to dispel the illusion he had just created as if to say, hey, I’m really a nice guy. A fan threw him a bouqet, which he split into 2 and gave to his 2 ballerinas. They kept trying to step to the back of the stage and let him take his bows but he kept grabbing them, hugging them and bowing to them. It seemed to be a very sincere and touching exhibition on his part.

I saw Bojeson a couple of years ago in La Sylphide - this was a very different side of her. As much as I would have loved to have seen Cojocaru again, I can’t imagine a more perfect “student”. Eager, innocent, yet stubborn and flirtatious and a wonderful, wonderful dancer. Deidre Chapman also made the most of her role as the pianist.

I was intrigued by the different interpretations Kobborg, Corella and Tsiskaridze each brought to the role of the maniacal teacher, and also really enjoyed watching Bojeson & Chapmen. Still, I had to force myself to focus on the dancers rather than the dance and would have MUCH preferred to watch them all in Jeune Homme or just about anything else. The audience gave The Lesson an enthusiastic round of applause each night, but when the lights came up there were lots of shudders and negative comments.

Stiefel was quoted as saying that he hoped this program would bring in a new audience. Although I found a lot to enjoy here I’m not sure what impression a new audience would have gotten from this program that included something as dark as The Lesson and completely ignored the classical variations that most of the world thinks of as bravura male dancing. The NY program did not include pre-performance archival footage or the encore that the California posters described. It ended with Corella’s solos and despite his phenomenal technique and charm, the end was anti climatic. The evening would have benefitted from some kind of ending that featured all 4 men dancing together, even if it was just brief encores.

Did Dvorovenko and Beloserkovsky dance from the version of Carmen that Alonso choreographed for Plitsetskaya?

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No, this version was by A Beliy, anyone familiar with him/her?

It was a very stark, modernist dance. As Ceeszi said they were both wearing simple black costumes with wide legs and straight lines.

Giselle speaks on so many levels that  it is nearly impossible for one artist to capture all aspects of her spirit.  I’ve seen each of this season’s principals in this role, and recommend  all of them with the caution that each is vastly different in color and emphasis.  With the exception of the Vishneva performances, all are very much a team effort with the overall performance outcome as much depending, happily, on the strengths of Albrecht and Myrta as on Giselle.  Vishneva’s performance is pretty much a stand back, one woman show.  In short, see Giselle on a continuing basis.

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Poohtunia, you said it all. I have seen a few truly great Giselles who had it all, or enough so you didn't notice anything missing. Fonteyn, Fracci, Makarova, Kirkland, Ferri for sure. Maybe Semenyaka & McKerrow. I missed Vishneva last season, and hers is the only ABT Giselle I'm going to see this year. Kent & Reyes will not disappoint, they are both lovely but IMO neither one gave a performance for the ages last season. Someday I'd like to see what Hererra and Dvorovenko can do with the role - but not when the Kirov's Giselle is a mere 3 1/2 hour train ride away. I'm going to catch the Vishneva/Malakhov cast and then catch Amtrak.

for the record, the choreography for the ROMEO AND JULIET/BALCONY duet danced by lacarra & pierre was john cranko's; this information, confirmed by the event's press agent, was not given noted in the program or in the loudspeaker announcement.

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rg, thanks for that info, I was just about to ask if it was Cranko's or Neumeier's R&J (not even sure if Neumeier ever even did an R&J). In any case, it was lovely. What a treat to see such accomplished, expressive dancers performing such beautiful material. Some of MacMillan's R&J is wonderful, and I love his balcony scene but it's a shame that NY so rarely gets to see any other versions anymore. As performed by Pierre & Lacarra this version struck me as being much more innocent & dewey eyed than MacMillan's. There was more emphasis on young love, or even infatuation finally & unexpectantly deepening into something more.

I have to agree with most of Ceeszi's observations, and thank her for listing all the programming info! This was also my second year in a row attending this gala. Last year Lacarra was the revelation for me. This year I too felt that Mathilde Froustey was the major discovery. She has a combination of steely technique, ethereal line, beautifully pliant feet, and a demeanor at once both delicate and regal. I was also very impressed with her partner, Emmanuel Thibault.

Last year's gala featured some real highs, but also a few yawns. This year I thought the level was high throughout. I'll admit feeling a certain reluctance to pay big bucks to see dancers I already see all the time, so I was delighted at Max & Irina's decision to perform against type here. It was lots of fun to watch them cut loose in the modern works. I also enjoyed seeing Sylve and Fadeyev in Tchai Pas, but he looked a bit small for her, and I felt she held back a little. As Ceeszi noted, her 2nd appearance in Dances at a Gathering was beautiful, but brief.

I thought all of the dancers were wonderful, but for the 2nd year in a row I don't think Lunkina chose material that showed her at her best. I wish she had chosen to perform part of the underwater scene from Pharaoh's Daughter, but I guess that wouldn't have worked for Sergei Filin! Yes, her technique is strong and she and Filin both excelled in the Pharaoh's Daughter pas de deux (esp the petite batterie), but I think her great strength is as a romantic ballerina and PD does not show this side of her. Even though Filin had all the fireworks in the Paganini pas de deux I thought this selection showed her lyricism to much greater effect than the Lacotte pdd.

Richardson, Alvarez & Hoffmann were all great, and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. I have to say that for the 2nd year in a row I thought Lucia Lacarra really stood out, even in this galaxy of stars. She is a very unique dancer, I don't know how to describe her except perhaps as a combination of Makarova and Whalen. That description is probably unfair to all 3 of them, but that's all that comes to mind! Although I prefer the Ashton version she & Pierre were heavenly in Petit's Thais pdd. I wish we could see more of them here!

Sat night, Feb 11

Darci Kistler was just beautiful tonight in Duo Concertant. She danced with clean, clear simplicity channeling the music and the choreography. Martins rose to the occasion, and this time the lighting effects worked properly. It was the highlight of the evening for me, maybe even the highlight of the season.

Fairchild, de Luz & company danced a lovely Baiser, they seemed to have ironed out the partnering glitches. Fanfare was amusing and I even enjoyed American in Paris tonight. I must have been in a good mood.

Friday 2/3

I'd like to see Scheller & de Luz in the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux.

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Me too

It’s probably worth mentioning that according to Johan Kobborg’s website (http://www.kobborg.co.uk/diary/cal.html) Alina Cojocaru is only confirmed for the Orange County performances. For NY, the casting for the Student is still TBA. Could be because Cojocaru is supposed to dance Ballet Imperial with the RB on Feb 25.

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That's interesting information - considering that City Center's website has listed Cojocaru on the program for about a week now...

I agree 100% with Oberon about last night's performance. Abi's fall was a big one, right at center stage, and it was jarring - but she and Whalen brought such beauty, balance and harmony to Concerto Barocco that it could not break the spell. Evans & the corps were all wonderful, this is the masterpiece I remember.

Auvergne was a snooze. Nice to see Kristin Sloan getting some featured roles and everyone danced beautifully but this was just monotonous. Fairchild was especially impressive because this was the most lyrical & romantic dancing that I've seen from her and it caught me by surprise.

Sylve's Firebird was wonderful. She's a dancer that I love in certain roles & just don't care for in others - she was perfect here. Of course her killer technique was put to good use but her characterization was also extraordinary. She was very avian and strong but also very exotic, mysterious and seductive at times. In this version the Firebird doesn't seem to dislike the Prince at all, both Sylve & Bouder seemed touched by regret upon their exits. Perhaps because here the Prince has released the Firebird long before she gives him the feather it's more of a reward than a bribe for her release. She's not human and they can't relate to each other on the same level that a man and a woman would, but the lack of animosity allows just a tinge of "what if" to enter the equation.

I also went on Wed night. Unfortunately I had a seat with a very bad view which made it hard to tell if the spotlights in the 3rd movement of Duo Concertant weren't timed properly, or if it was just my extreme angle that ruined the effect. Still, I haven't seen this little jewel in many, many years and it was wonderful to see it and to hear that music again. Didn't remember it being quite so sentimental, though.

Ana Sophia Scheller is quickly becoming one of my favorite dancers. She's lightning fast and has a huge jump but she's one of those dancers who always makes it look as if she has all the time in the world to complete a phrase, even in Divertimento

Have the fish dives in Tchai Pas become ridiculously safe and anticlimatic, or have I just seen this a few too many times? They looked more like fish dips than fish dives.

I worship Wendy Whalen and last week I watched her dance a performance of Bizet 2nd movement that was sublime, but this Wed I thought she had an off night. She looked shakey. And the fouttees at the end were totally out of sync (not saying this was her fault - I can never tell who is off but someone was WAY off).

It is perhaps worth mentioning the huge program change in Kings of Dance reported in today's Links by Dirac:

"Jeune Homme" is to be replaced by "The Lesson" with Alina Cojocaru, partnered by a different man each performance.

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drb thanks for the info, that is a very interesting turn of events. I must admit that Jeune Homme is one of my all time favorite guilty pleasures and I was looking forward to seeing it again (esp with Steifel & Tsiskaridze and Vishneva as the woman). However trading it for The Lesson is a small price to pay for the privilege of seeing Ms. Cojocaru, she is truly incandescent. I've never seen Flindt's ballet, but descriptions indicated roles for a man and 2 women and City Center's website mentions "other guests from the Royal Ballet". Dare we also hope for a guest appearance by a prodigal daughter?

There is a story in Playbill Arts today that confirms that Vishneva is out of Kings in NY & LA and states that Tamiyo Kusakari will replace her:

http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/3734.html