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BalletNut

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Posts posted by BalletNut

  1. Here is a list of promotions and new members from SFB's website. You can read the full press release here.

    Promotion/Level

    James Sofranko, Soloist

    New Company Members/Level

    Maria Kochetkova, Principal Dancer

    Julianne Kepley, Soloist

    Mateo Klemmayer, Soloist

    Gaetano Amico, Corps de Ballet

    Clara Blanco, Corps de Ballet

    Ludmila Campos, Corps de Ballet

    Charlene Cohen, Corps de Ballet

    Sasha De Sola, Corps de Ballet

    Damir Emric , Corps de Ballet

    Christopher Mondoux, Corps de Ballet

    Ashley Muangmaithong, Corps de Ballet

    Kendall Teague, Corps de Ballet

    Luke Willis, Corps de Ballet

    New Apprentices

    Owen Gaj, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company

    Sean Orza, San Francisco Ballet School

  2. I'll start. :dry:

    Don Quixote, Opening Night, 28 April 2007

    I wasn't sure what to expect out of Vanessa Zahorian as Kitri, but she more than delivered in this performance. I don't think I've ever seen anyone turn as fast as she did. Her fouettes earned thunderous applause from the audience, and her jumps were well executed. I never thought of her as an actress, but she hammed it up nicely, even if she was relying a bit heavily on facial expressions rather than comic timing. Davit Karapetyan made his debut as Basilio in that performance as well. He was technically flawless, and even impressive, but his acting needs a bit of work.

    I was expecting the world from Muriel Maffre's Mercedes, and maybe I shouldn't have been. Notwithstanding her amazingly flexible back, she seemed miscast in the role and didn't hold my attention the way she has in other ballets. That said, it was a fine performance; it's just that I've come to expect more from her. Nevertheless, she will be missed, as this was one of her last performances with SF Ballet. As Espada, Moises Martin was, again, technically perfect but dramatically a bit dull. I much preferred his brother Ruben in the same role the last time I saw Don Q.

    The rest of the company was a mixed bag. Hansuke Yamamoto and Pauli Magierek burned up the stage as the gypsy couple, while Frances Chung and Dores Andre as Kitri's friends couldn't seem to get in sync with each other even though they both danced beautifully. Yuan Yuan Tan and Elizabeth Miner as the Driad Queen and Cupid, respectively, were both beautiful, while the corps was mostly together in the driad scene as well as the seguidilla and fandango.

    Martin West conducted, and the tempi were much faster than what I was used to, especially during the Act 3 opening march. Fortunately, the dancers were able to keep up with it. I was disappointed that Tomasson cut the two bridesmaid variations, as I would have liked to see more of Andre and Chung's individual talents.

    Overall, however, this was a rousing finale to a slightly lackluster season at SFB.

  3. From SFB's website:

    DON QUIXOTE Opening Night

    4/28/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Vanessa Zahorian

    Basilio: Davit Karapetyan*

    DON QUIXOTE Matinee

    4/29/2007, 2 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Kristin Long

    Basilio: Gennadi Nedvigin

    DON QUIXOTE Evening

    5/1/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Tina LeBlanc

    Basilio: Gonzalo Garcia

    DON QUIXOTE Evening

    5/2/2007, 7:30 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Molly Smolen^

    Basilio: Tiit Helimets*

    DON QUIXOTE Evening

    5/3/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Vanessa Zahorian

    Basilio: Davit Karapetyan

    DON QUIXOTE Evening

    5/4/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Kristin Long

    Basilio: Gennadi Nedvigin

    DON QUIXOTE Matinee

    5/5/2007, 2 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Molly Smolen

    Basilio: Tiit Helimets

    DON QUIXOTE Evening

    5/5/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Tina LeBlanc

    Basilio: Gonzalo Garcia

    DON QUIXOTE Matinee

    5/6/2007, 2 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kitri: Vanessa Zahorian

    Basilio: Davit Karapetyan

    * Designates premiere in a role.

    Casting subject to change.

  4. Even more:

    PROGRAM 6 Evening

    4/13/2007, 8 PM

    NIGHT

    Conductor: Gary Sheldon

    Tina LeBlanc, Ruben Martin*

    INTERMISSION

    ON COMMON GROUND

    Conductor: Martin West

    Cello: David Kadarauch

    Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets

    Molly Smolen, Ruben Martin*

    INTERMISSION

    RODEO

    Conductor: Martin West

    Cowgirl: Kristin Long

    Wrangler: Aaron Orza

    Roper: Matthew Stewart

    Rancher’s Daughter: Pauli Magierek

    PROGRAM 7 Matinee

    4/14/2007, 2 PM

    ELEMENTAL BRUBECK

    Music: Tape

    Rory Hohenstein

    Elizabeth Miner, James Sofranko*

    INTERMISSION

    CONCORDIA

    Conductor: Martin West

    Vanessa Zahorian, Pascal Molat

    Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets

    INTERMISSION

    SYMPHONY IN C

    Conductor: Martin West

    1st Movement: Tina LeBlanc, Davit Karapetyan

    2nd Movement: Sarah Van Patten*, Moises Martin*

    3rd Movement: Frances Chung*, Nicolas Blanc*

    4th Movement: Elizabeth Miner, Hansuke Yamamoto

    PROGRAM 7 Evening

    4/14/2007, 8 PM

    ELEMENTAL BRUBECK

    Music: Tape

    Gonzalo Garcia

    Katita Waldo, Ruben Martin

    INTERMISSION

    CONCORDIA

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kristin Long, Gennadi Nedvigin

    Muriel Maffre, Pierre-François Vilanoba

    INTERMISSION

    SYMPHONY IN C

    Conductor: Martin West

    1st Movement: Vanessa Zahorian, Gonzalo Garcia

    2nd Movement: Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets

    3rd Movement: Molly Smolen, Pascal Molat

    4th Movement: Frances Chung*, Garrett Anderson*

    PROGRAM 6 Matinee

    4/15/2007, 2 PM

    NIGHT

    Conductor: Gary Sheldon

    Vanessa Zahorian, Tiit Helimets

    INTERMISSION

    ON COMMON GROUND

    Conductor: Martin West

    Cello: David Kadarauch

    Lorena Feijoo, Davit Karapetyan

    Tina LeBlanc, Joan Boada

    INTERMISSION

    RODEO

    Conductor: Martin West

    Cowgirl: Sarah Van Patten

    Wrangler: Brett Bauer*

    Roper: Garrett Anderson

    Rancher’s Daughter: Pauli Magierek

  5. More from SFB's website:

    PROGRAM 7 Opening Night

    4/11/2007, 7:30 PM

    ELEMENTAL BRUBECK

    Music: Tape

    Gonzalo Garcia

    Katita Waldo, Ruben Martin*

    INTERMISSION

    CONCORDIA

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kristin Long*, Gennadi Nedvigin*

    Muriel Maffre*, Pierre-François Vilanoba*

    INTERMISSION

    SYMPHONY IN C

    Conductor: Martin West

    1st Movement: Vanessa Zahorian*, Gonzalo Garcia

    2nd Movement: Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets*

    3rd Movement: Molly Smolen*, Pascal Molat*

    4th Movement: Sarah Van Patten*, Hansuke Yamamoto*

    PROGRAM 7 Evening

    4/12/2007, 8 PM

    ELEMENTAL BRUBECK

    Music: Tape

    Rory Hohenstein

    Katita Waldo, Ruben Martin

    INTERMISSION

    CONCORDIA

    Conductor: Martin West

    Vanessa Zahorian*, Pascal Molat*

    Sarah Van Patten*, Tiit Helimets*

    INTERMISSION

    SYMPHONY IN C

    Conductor: Martin West

    1st Movement: Tina LeBlanc, Davit Karapetyan*

    2nd Movement: Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets

    3rd Movement: Kristin Long, Gennadi Nedvigin

    4th Movement: Elizabeth Miner*, Hansuke Yamamoto

    * Designates premiere in a role.

    Casting subject to change.

  6. Casting is up for Programs 6 and 7.

    PROGRAM 6 Opening Night

    4/4/2007, 7:30 PM

    NIGHT

    Conductor: Gary Sheldon

    Tina LeBlanc, Ruben Martin*

    INTERMISSION

    ON COMMON GROUND

    Conductor: Martin West

    Cello: David Kadarauch

    Lorena Feijoo*, Davit Karapetyan*

    Tina LeBlanc*, Joan Boada*

    INTERMISSION

    RODEO

    Conductor: Martin West

    Cowgirl: Kristin Long

    Wrangler: Ruben Martin

    Roper: Rory Hohenstein

    Rancher’s Daughter: Pauli Magierek

    PROGRAM 6 Evening

    4/5/2007, 8 PM

    NIGHT

    Conductor: Gary Sheldon

    Tina LeBlanc, Ruben Martin

    INTERMISSION

    ON COMMON GROUND

    Conductor: Martin West

    Cello: David Kadarauch

    Sarah Van Patten*, Tiit Helimets*

    Molly Smolen*, Ruben Martin*

    INTERMISSION

    RODEO

    Conductor: Martin West

    Cowgirl: Tina LeBlanc

    Wrangler: Aaron Orza*

    Roper: Garrett Anderson

    Rancher’s Daughter: Alexandra Meyer-Lorey

  7. I'm both surprised and not surprised. Surprised it happened now, mid-season (Tomasson usually waits until later in the season to promote people), but not surprised that it happened to these two, who've been doing a lot of principal roles lately.

    It will be interesting to see how they develop in their careers.

  8. Even more casting:

    PROGRAM 5 Evening

    3/20/2007, 8 PM

    PACIFIC

    Piano: Roy Bogas

    Violin: Roy Malan

    Cello: David Kadarauch

    Nicolas Blanc, Tina LeBlanc

    Garrett Anderson, James Sofranko, Steven Norman

    Elana Altman*, Courtney Elizabeth, Brooke Taylor Moore, Maureen Choi

    -Pause-

    CAROUSEL (A DANCE)

    Conductor: Martin West

    Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-François Vilanoba

    INTERMISSION

    THE FIFTH SEASON

    Conductor: Martin West

    Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets

    Katita Waldo, Gonzalo Garcia

    Rachel Viselli, Ruben Martin

    INTERMISSION

    FANCY FREE

    Conductor: Martin West

    Benjamin Stewart, Rory Hohenstein, Ruben Martin

    Sarah Van Patten

    Courtney Elizabeth, Mariellen Olson

    PROGRAM 5 Evening

    3/21/2007, 7:30 PM

    PACIFIC

    Piano: Roy Bogas

    Violin: Roy Malan

    Cello: David Kadarauch

    Gennadi Nedvigin, Frances Chung

    David Arce, Jaime Garcia Castilla*, Rory Hohenstein*

    Katita Waldo, Sarah Van Patten*, Dana Genshaft*, Vanessa Zahorian*

    -Pause-

    CAROUSEL (A DANCE)

    Conductor: Martin West

    Dana Genshaft, Ruben Martin

    INTERMISSION

    THE FIFTH SEASON

    Conductor: Martin West

    Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun, Pierre-François Vilanoba

    Lorena Feijoo, Davit Karapetyan

    Rachel Viselli, Ruben Martin

    INTERMISSION

    FANCY FREE

    Conductor: Martin West

    Benjamin Stewart, Rory Hohenstein, Ruben Martin

    Sarah Van Patten

    Courtney Elizabeth, Mariellen Olson

    PROGRAM 4 Evening

    3/22/2007, 8 PM

    SPRING ROUNDS

    Conductor: Martin West

    Vanessa Zahorian, Garrett Anderson

    INTERMISSION

    CHI-LIN

    Conductor: Martin West

    Violin: Roy Malan

    Piccolo: Julie Mackenzie

    Dragon: Davit Karapetyan

    Tortoise: Pierre-François Vilanoba

    Phoenix: Nicolas Blanc

    Chi-Lin: Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun*

    INTERMISSION

    EDEN/EDEN

    Conductor: Gary Sheldon

    Yuan Yuan Tan*, Tiit Helimets*

    Pascal Molat, Dana Genshaft

    Rory Hohenstein, Katita Waldo

    Jaime Garcia Castilla, Hayley Farr, Moises Martin

    PROGRAM 5 Evening

    3/23/2007, 8 PM

    PACIFIC

    Piano: Roy Bogas

    Violin: Roy Malan

    Cello: David Kadarauch

    Gennadi Nedvigin, Tina LeBlanc

    David Arce, Jaime Garcia Castilla, Rory Hohenstein

    Elana Altman, Courtney Elizabeth, Dana Genshaft, Vanessa Zahorian

    CAROUSEL (A DANCE)

    Conductor: Martin West

    Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-François Vilanoba

    INTERMISSION

    THE FIFTH SEASON

    Conductor: Martin West

    Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets

    Katita Waldo, Gonzalo Garcia

    Sarah Van Patten, Pierre-François Vilanoba

    INTERMISSION

    FANCY FREE

    Conductor: Martin West

    Pascal Molat, Garrett Anderson, Gonzalo Garcia

    Vanessa Zahorian

    Erin McNulty, Elana Altman

    PROGRAM 4 Matinee

    3/24/2007, 2 PM

    SPRING ROUNDS

    Conductor: Martin West

    Vanessa Zahorian, Garrett Anderson

    INTERMISSION

    CHI-LIN

    Conductor: Martin West

    Violin: Roy Malan

    Piccolo: Julie Mackenzie

    Dragon: Davit Karapetyan

    Tortoise: Pierre-François Vilanoba

    Phoenix: Jaime Garcia Castilla

    Chi-Lin: Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun

    INTERMISSION

    EDEN/EDEN

    Conductor : Gary Sheldon

    Muriel Maffre, Gonzalo Garcia

    Pascal Molat, Dana Genshaft

    Rory Hohenstein, Katita Waldo

    James Sofranko*, Margaret Karl*, Moises Martin

    PROGRAM 4 Evening

    3/24/2007, 8 PM

    SPRING ROUNDS

    Conductor: Martin West

    Vanessa Zahorian, Garrett Anderson

    INTERMISSION

    CHI-LIN

    Conductor: Martin West

    Violin: Roy Malan

    Piccolo: Julie Mackenzie

    Dragon: Pierre-François Vilanoba

    Tortoise: Tiit Helimets

    Phoenix: Hansuke Yamamoto

    Chi-Lin: Yuan Yuan Tan

    INTERMISSION

    EDEN/EDEN

    Conductor: Gary Sheldon

    Muriel Maffre, Gonzalo Garcia

    Pascal Molat, Dana Genshaft

    Rory Hohenstein, Katita Waldo

    Jaime Garcia Castilla, Hayley Farr, Moises Martin

    PROGRAM 5 Matinee

    3/25/2007, 2 PM

    PACIFIC

    Piano: Roy Bogas

    Violin: Roy Malan

    Cello: David Kadarauch

    Garrett Anderson*, Frances Chung

    Ruben Martin, James Sofranko, Steven Norman

    Katita Waldo, Sarah Van Patten, Dana Genshaft, Vanessa Zahorian

    -Pause-

    CAROUSEL (A DANCE)

    Conductor: Martin West

    Dores Andre, Joan Boada

    INTERMISSION

    THE FIFTH SEASON

    Conductor: Martin West

    Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun, Pierre-François Vilanoba

    Lorena Feijoo, Davit Karapetyan

    Rachel Viselli, Ruben Martin

    INTERMISSION

    FANCY FREE

    Conductor: Martin West

    Matthew Stewart, James Sofranko, Davit Karapetyan

    Pauli Magierek*

    Danielle Santos*, Mariellen Olson

    * Designates premiere in a role.

    Casting subject to change.

  9. Program 5, 17 March 2007

    Pacific

    As far as SFB is concerned, it's almost a shibboleth to say anything negative about Mark Morris, but I'm sorry to report that I didn't like this ballet. It was short enough that there was no need for an intermission between it and the next ballet, but it still felt over-long. Choreographically, it's in a category with Taylor's Spring Rounds and any other flowy, fusiony modern ballet where there are few if any identifiable principal roles, every corps dancer gets their own little solo, and which invariably end with everyone dancing in joyous, upbeat circles in their gauzy, hand-dyed costumes. Not bad the first time you see something like that, but a couple of seasons of this stuff and it gets tiresome. And the music was sort of awful. Sorry, but that's my reaction.

    Carousel (A Dance)

    Much, much better than Pacific. Wheeldon is an actual ballet choreographer, unlike Morris, and it shows. I've been a little iffy about whether he's the true heir to Balanchine's legacy, and I still am, but I liked this ballet a lot more than I'd liked his other works. Dana Genshaft was sweet and innocent in the MacMillan-esque central pas de deux, and the corps dancers, particularly the women, particularly Pauli Magierek and Jennifer Stahl, seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. Holly Hynes' costumes were also quite nice.

    The Fifth Season

    If Pacific belongs to the same category as Spring Rounds, then The Fifth Season belongs to the same category as The Tuning Game (also Tomasson), and any other unitard-clad ballet by the Sons of Balanchine to atonal music. Parts of it were still enjoyable, however, especially the finale. Tiit Helimets, Katita Waldo, Yuan Yuan Tan, and Sarah Van Patten were in fine form in this piece.

    Fancy Free

    I really, really wanted to like this ballet, and this performance, and I did, but not as much as I should have. Perhaps it was my own fatigue from the other three ballets, but it didn't seem like the three sailors and one of the passers-by (Vanessa Zahorian, in the purple costume) had as much energy as they should have. A pity, because the ballet obviously requires energy, boundless energy, even in the slow parts. Erin McNulty (passer-by with the purse) had it, as did Elana Altman and, strangely enough, the bartender (Quinn Wharton). I'm not saying the sailors (Garrett Anderson, Gonzalo Garcia, and Pascal Molat) didn't dance well, because they did. What was missing was the machismo and almost-hyperactivity that make this a great ballet. Without it, it becomes a show in gymnastics with the flavor of a watery Popeye cartoon. Just saying.

    (By the way, thank you, Talespinner, for posting about Program 4. :dry: I hope other people post about these programs, too. )

  10. Casting, from SFB's website:

    PROGRAM 4 Opening Night

    3/13/2007, 8 PM

    SPRING ROUNDS

    Conductor: Martin West

    Vanessa Zahorian, Garrett Anderson

    INTERMISSION

    CHI-LIN

    Conductor: Martin West

    Piccolo: Julie Mackenzie

    Dragon: Pierre-François Vilanoba*

    Tortoise: Tiit Helimets*

    Phoenix: Hansuke Yamamoto

    Chi-Lin: Yuan Yuan Tan

    INTERMISSION

    EDEN/EDEN

    Conductor: Gary Sheldon

    Muriel Maffre*, Gonzalo Garcia*

    Pascal Molat*, Dana Genshaft*

    Rory Hohenstein*, Katita Waldo*

    Jaime Garcia Castilla*, Hayley Farr*, Moises Martin*

    PROGRAM 4 Evening

    3/14/2007, 7:30 PM

    SPRING ROUNDS

    Conductor: Martin West

    Vanessa Zahorian, Garrett Anderson

    INTERMISSION

    CHI-LIN

    Conductor: Martin West

    Piccolo: Julie Mackenzie

    Dragon: Davit Karapetyan*

    Tortoise: Tiit Helimets

    Phoenix: Hansuke Yamamoto

    Chi-Lin: Yuan Yuan Tan

    INTERMISSION

    EDEN/EDEN

    Conductor: Gary Sheldon

    Muriel Maffre, Gonzalo Garcia

    Pascal Molat, Dana Genshaft

    Rory Hohenstein, Katita Waldo

    Jaime Garcia Castilla, Hayley Farr, Moises Martin

  11. Even more casting:

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Evening

    3/2/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Aurora: Yuan Yuan Tan

    Prince Desiré: Tiit Helimets

    Lilac Fairy: Muriel Maffre

    Carabosse: Anita Paciotti

    Bluebird: Hansuke Yamamoto

    Enchanted Princess: Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Matinee

    3/3/2007, 2 PM

    Conductor: Ormsby Wilkins

    Aurora: Tina LeBlanc

    Prince Desiré: Gennadi Nedvigin

    Lilac Fairy: Sarah Van Patten

    Carabosse: Parrish Maynard

    Bluebird: Joseph Phillips

    Enchanted Princess: Elizabeth Miner

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Evening

    3/3/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Ormsby Wilkins

    Aurora: Vanessa Zahorian

    Prince Desiré: Gonzalo Garcia

    Lilac Fairy: Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun

    Carabosse: Muriel Maffre

    Bluebird: Joan Boada

    Enchanted Princess: Katita Waldo

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Matinee

    3/4/2007, 2 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Aurora: Yuan Yuan Tan

    Prince Desiré: Tiit Helimets

    Lilac Fairy: Muriel Maffre

    Carabosse: Anita Paciotti

    Bluebird: Hansuke Yamamoto

    Enchanted Princess: Frances Chung

  12. Opening Night, 24 February 2007

    Princess Aurora: Yuan Yuan Tan

    Prince Desire: Tiit Helimets

    Lilac Fairy: Muriel Maffre

    Fairy of Darkness (Carabosse): Anita Paciotti

    Bluebird: Joan Boada

    Enchanted Princess: Katita Waldo

    This performance looked interesting on paper, to say the least. Although I had seen Maffre and Waldo in their respective roles and had heard good things about Helimets as a prince, I was having a hard time picturing Yuan Yuan Tan as Aurora. Fortunately, she was quite good, even if one never forgot that one was watching Yuan Yuan Tan dancing Aurora; her technique was fabulous even though she didn't completely inhabit the role. Her Rose Adagio was especially noteworthy and well-received. It didn't sound like the music was slowed down for the balances to last longer than usual, but they did indeed last longer than usual, and generated significant applause both at the beginning and at the end.

    As Prince Desire, Tiit Helimets started out somewhat aloof, but warmed up by the wedding pas. He is an excellent partner, rather self-effacing in his efforts to showcase his ballerina. Tan was somewhat cool in the vision scene, but perhaps she intended to be.

    It was wonderful seeing Muriel Maffre as the Lilac Fairy in one of her last performances of the role before she departs SFB at the end of the season. Her prologue variation was performed as though she was savoring every single step. She overpowered Anita Paciotti's Fairy of Darkness both physically and dramatically in the scenes they had together, and used her upper body to great effect in the vision scene and apotheosis.

    Other notable performances included Joan Boada's Bluebird, with impeccable batterie and musicality; Sarah van Patten's Fairy of Generosity (the 2nd fairy), which devoured space on the stage; and Molly Smolen both as the Fairy of Courage and the Diamond Fairy, where she moved with a snappy staccato and impressive elevation. The corps appeared fairly well-rehearsed, even if not in perfect unison all of the time, but still happy to be dancing this piece. The weak point of the performance was the music, oddly enough. The problem was twofold: Tomasson has seen fit to cut up pieces of the score and either insert them where they do not belong, or omit sections altogether. This is most jarring at Aurora's awakening, where the gong sounds and there is quiet music, followed by the joyous Act 2 Finale music with no intermediate music in between. It was awkward, to say the least. The second problem was with the orchestra itself. It seemed that some of the musicians were missing their cues; this was most noticeable at the start of the Puss In Boots variation (danced admirably and humorously by Dores Andre and Matthew Stewart, regardless), when the oboe missed the opening notes of the variation. Otherwise, it was a wonderful performance.

    It would be interesting to hear how other people felt about this and other casts in SFB's Sleeping Beauty, and I look forward to reading all of your posts.

  13. More casting:

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Evening

    2/27/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Ormsby Wilkins

    Aurora: Tina LeBlanc

    Prince Desiré: Gennadi Nedvigin*

    Lilac Fairy: Sarah Van Patten*

    Carabosse: Parrish Maynard

    Bluebird: Joan Boada

    Enchanted Princess: Kristin Long

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Evening

    2/28/2007, 7:30 PM

    Conductor: Ormsby Wilkins

    Aurora: Vanessa Zahorian

    Prince Desiré: Gonzalo Garcia*

    Lilac Fairy: Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun*

    Carabosse: Muriel Maffre

    Bluebird: Hansuke Yamamoto*

    Enchanted Princess: Frances Chung*

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Evening

    3/1/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Aurora: Rachel Viselli

    Prince Desiré: Davit Karapetyan

    Lilac Fairy: Elana Altman

    Carabosse: Anita Paciotti

    Bluebird: Joseph Phillips*

    Enchanted Princess: Elizabeth Miner

  14. Casting has been posted for the first two performances:

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Opening Night

    2/24/2007, 8 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Aurora: Yuan Yuan Tan

    Prince Desiré: Tiit Helimets^

    Lilac Fairy: Muriel Maffre

    Carabosse: Anita Paciotti

    Bluebird: Joan Boada

    Enchanted Princess: Kristin Long

    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Matinee

    2/25/2007, 2 PM

    Conductor: Martin West

    Aurora: Rachel Viselli*

    Prince Desiré: Davit Karapetyan*

    Lilac Fairy: Elana Altman*

    Carabosse: Parrish Maynard

    Bluebird: Hansuke Yamamoto*

    Enchanted Princess: Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun*

  15. 10 February 2007, Program 1

    A few notes about this performance:

    Divertimento #15: This was technically well-danced, but something was missing. It seemed that the dancers were performing this out of duty more than out of enjoyment. I wish they'd had the enthusiasm for Balanchine that I do, but instead they tended to treat this, as they do many "classical" ballets, like brussels sprouts: it's good for you, but they'd rather eat/dance something else. On the topic of food, Sandra Woodall's redesign of the costumes produced tutus that resembled wedding cakes.

    Aunis: It's a cute ballet that had the audience in giggles a few times. The accordion music sounded fine at the beginning, but got old after a while. The steps reminded me of the "klezmer" section of Magrittomania (Possokhov), which of course was choreographed later. Overall an energetic and spirited performance, but the choreography became a bit repetitive after a while, as did the score.

    Artifact Suite: Half of this ballet I liked, half I disliked. I was not terribly impressed with the Bach section, where the fire curtain slams into the stage at odd intervals. I felt that part was gimmicky, and the puke-yellow costumes in the first half did not help matters. Nevertheless, there was a fine performance from Muriel Maffre bending her limbs every which way. The second half was helped by different costumes, and energy from the corps that I wish I'd seen in Divertimento. I was especially fond of the finale. Pauli Magierek was a standout in the ensemble.

  16. Even more casting:

    PROGRAM 1 Matinee

    2/10/2007, 2:00 p.m.

    DIVERTIMENTO NO. 15

    Conductor: George Cleve

    Nicolas Blanc, Ruben Martin, Hansuke Yamamoto

    Tina LeBlanc

    Vanessa Zahorian, Frances Chung, Elizabeth Miner, Rachel Viselli

    -pause-

    AUNIS

    Rory Hohenstein, Garrett Anderson, James Sofranko

    INTERMISSION

    ARTIFACT SUITE

    Piano: Michael McGraw

    Muriel Maffre, Pierre-François Vilanoba

    Kristin Long, Joan Boada

    Elana Altman

    PROGRAM 1 Evening

    2/10/2007, 8:00 p.m.

    DIVERTIMENTO NO. 15

    Conductor:George Cleve

    Nicolas Blanc, Gennadi Nedvigin, Jaime Garcia Castilla

    Kristin Long

    Vanessa Zahorian, Frances Chung, Elizabeth Miner, Rachel Viselli

    -pause-

    AUNIS

    Rory Hohenstein, Joan Boada, Pascal Molat

    INTERMISSION

    ARTIFACT SUITE

    Piano: Michael McGraw

    Muriel Maffre, Pierre-François Vilanoba

    Tina LeBlanc, Gonzalo Garcia

    Elana Altman

    PROGRAM 2 Matinee

    2/11/2007,2:00 p.m.

    BLUE ROSE

    Piano: Natal’ya Feygina

    Violin: Roy Malan

    Tina LeBlanc, Elana Altman*, Vanessa Zahorian

    Pascal Molat, Moises Martin*, Davit Karapetyan*

    INTERMISSION

    THE DANCE HOUSE

    Conductor: Martin West

    Piano: Michael McGraw

    Kristin Long, Rory Hohenstein

    Molly Smolen, Tiit Helimets

    Elizabeth Miner, James Sofranko

    INTERMISSION

    FIREBIRD

    Conductor: Martin West

    Kaschei: Garrett Anderson

    Firebird: Lily Rogers

    Prince: Ruben Martin

    Princess: Sarah Van Patten

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