PeggyR

Having computer problems, so just saw this info re Anima Animus being withdrawn. I had purchased an extra ticket just to see that and Divertimento; I'm seriously upset about the change, particularly since the replacement is Hurry Up ..., which I loathed. Fortunately, it's at the end, so I'll just leave early, but still. Also (still trying to catch up): Van Patten is pregnant again? DELETED

‘Low key’ is putting it mildly; Like Hernando’s Hideaway, I could have used another showcase pas de deux to add a little zip to the proceedings (btw, Le Corsaire was performed at the 2018 Gala, with De Sola and Greco). Most of the oomph was provided by terrific Kuranaga/Greco performances in Tomasson’s ‘Soirees Musicales’. She’s wonderfully musical with glorious balances – relaxed, never forced or overheld for effect. As expected, Greco dazzled. Also liked ‘UnSaid’, even if it was a bit bleak for a gala. I’d like to see what Rowe would do with an actual narrative story to tell, like Cathy Marston did with Ethan Frome. I hope we see more from her. ‘Rubies’ fell a little flat for me. Scheller was nicely flirtatious and, of course, danced beautifully, but she didn’t quite seem to capture that hip-swinging, jazzy flavor that I was expecting.

On my way, assuming I can walk two blocks in heels!

The Gala has been shuffled around, plus the cast (previously TBA) for the Agon pas de trois is announced. As far as I can see, the only dancer substitution is Luke Ingham for Ulrik Birkkjae in Etudes, which is really too bad: this type of role isn't really Ingham's strong point, and Birkkjae would probably be stunning. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23 AT 8PM Excerpt from Études Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Lander after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola Aaron Robison Luke Ingham Pas de Deux from Handel—A Celebration Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: George Frideric Handel Conductor: Martin West Mathilde Froustey Tiit Helimets Pas de Trois from Agon Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Igor Stravinsky Conductor: Martin West WanTing Zhao Ben Freemantle Jennifer Stahl Soirées Musicales Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Benjamin Britten Conductor: Martin West Misa Kuranaga Angelo Greco Pas de Deux from "Rubies" Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Igor Stravinsky Conductor: Martin West Ana Sophia Scheller Vitor Luiz UnSaid Choreography: Danielle Rowe Music: Ezio Bosso Natasha Feygina (piano) / Eric Sung (cello) Sofiane Sylve Aaron Robison Excerpt from Diving into the Lilacs Choreography: Yuri Possokhov Music: Boris Tchaikovsky Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan Carlo Di Lanno Excerpt from Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: M83 Elizabeth Powell Luke Ingham Gabriela Gonzalez Ulrik Birkkjaer Dores Andre Joseph Walsh

Another casting update. Just bought a ticket for this one. Sunday, January 27, 2019 – 2 pm Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Dores Andre Basilio: Wei Wang Don Quixote: Alexander Reneff-Olson Sancho Panza: Diego Cruz Gamache: Myles Thatcher

Here’s the casting so far. My season tickets are Saturday matinee, so I’m very happy to see the Park/Walsh cast. Plus, Sohm is an excellent Don, and Thatcher, a hilariously over-the-top Gamache. DON QUIXOTE Choreography: Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Music: Ludwig Minkus Friday, January 25, 2019 – 8 pm Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Mathilde Froustey Basilio: Angelo Greco Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Pascal Molat Gamache: Alexandre Cagnat Saturday, January 26, 2019 – 2 pm Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Wona Park Basilio: Joseph Walsh Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Davide Occhipinti Gamache: Myles Thatcher Saturday, January 26, 2019 – 8 pm Conductor: Martin West Kitri: Sasha De Sola Basilio: Aaron Robison Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Pascal Molat Gamache: Alexandre Cagnat

Still no casts posted for the Don Q run on the SFB website; I do wish they’d hurry up. Good news that Froustey gets opening night; she’s earned it and apparently, it’s her favorite role. I’m going to do my best to see all the casts my (rapidly shrinking) wallet can manage, especially the ones with Wang or Park. She’s technically strong, with great presence; if she can act at all, she should be terrific. And I’m really curious to see Wei Wang. Technically he’ll have no problems, but I’ve never thought he projected very well: maybe this role will show hidden talents. Hoping the same for Scheller, who I think would be a good Mercedes, but Kitri? Maybe they will both be happy surprises. Matching a debut with an experienced partner seems to be the usual practice in the past, so I’d guess it’s likely here, too. Which brings up Wang and who will be his partner if four out of five Kitris are debuts. Plus, there appear to be four Basilios to five Kitris, so one of the men will have to double up. I saw the Wang/Park Waltz Couple in Serenade and they’re a good match, but since these are both debuts, maybe that pairing won’t happen.

Mathilde Froustey discusses Kitri's variation and some of its difficulties.

The Pas de Trois from Agon is still to be cast, so maybe some of the above will show up there. Why is Strongin 'probably injured'?

According the Kuranaga's bio on the BB site, she was an apprentice at San Francisco Ballet in 2001, then joined BB in 2003.

It does seem a little odd, bringing an outside dancer (Boston Ballet) in for a performance that's supposed to show off the company dancers. Maybe it's an 'audition'?

OPENING NIGHT GALA: THIS IS PASSION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23 AT 8PM Pas de Deux from "Rubies" Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Igor Stravinsky Conductor: Martin West Ana Sophia Scheller Vitor Luiz UnSaid Choreography: Danielle Rowe Music: Ezio Bosso Natasha Feygina (piano) / Eric Sung (cello) Sofiane Sylve Aaron Robison Pas de Deux from Handel—A Celebration Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: George Frideric Handel Conductor: Martin West Mathilde Froustey Tiit Helimets Excerpt from Hurry Up, We're Dreaming Choreography: Justin Peck Music: M83 Elizabeth Powell Luke Ingham Gabriela Gonzalez Ulrik Birkkjaer Dores Andre Joseph Walsh Soirées Musicales Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Benjamin Britten Conductor: Martin West Misa Kuranaga Angelo Greco Pas de Trois from Agon Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Igor Stravinsky Conductor: Martin West Soloists to be announced. Excerpt from Diving into the Lilacs Choreography: Yuri Possokhov Music: Boris Tchaikovksy Conductor: Martin West Yuan Yuan Tan Carlo Di Lanno Excerpt from Études Choreography: Harald Lander Music: Knudåge Lander after Carl Czerny Conductor: Martin West Sasha De Sola Aaron Robison Ulrik Birkkjae I hope the result on the stage is a little more exciting than it appears on the page: I can’t picture the lovely, but rather aloof Ana Sophia Scheller in the Rubies PdD; two unfamiliar (to me) Tomasson ballets which I expect will be as prettily bland as his other works; and Justin Peck’s sneaker ballet ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming”, which I didn’t like. At least we get something from Agon, plus the lovely pas de deux (which is the usual excerpt from this ballet) from Diving Into the Lilacs. I’m unfamiliar with Danielle Rowe, choreographer of UnSaid: according to Wikipedia (so no guarantees for accuracy), she’s from Australia and has danced with Houston Ballet, The Australian Ballet, and Nederlands Dans Theater, and “has been in a long term relationship with fellow South Australian [SFB principal dancer] Luke Ingham”.

Last year SFB had a series of lectures/interviews about the history of ballet in the USA and San Francisco. The lectures were good, but the best parts were the interviews/conversations with current and former dancers – very articulate and funny, so this should be entertaining. Ballet Talk - Don Quixote Dancer's Cut What does it take to be a character dancer? And what goes through their mind on stage? Come find out. Hear insights and commentary on a video capture of Don Quixote from regular SF Ballet character dancers, Ballet Master Anita Paciotti and SF Ballet School faculty Pascal Molat. January 26, 2019 Time: 5–6:30pm Location: Dollar Board Room, Chris Hellman Center for Dance Price: $35/$30 (subscribers and donors above $75) Note that if the Company runs true to form, performance casts probably won’t be posted until sometime next week.

They seem to be well matched physically - she's petite so should be easy to lift. Plus, he doing the GPdD with Andre next day, so at least he's getting plenty of practice with experienced partners. If there are any standing room tickets available, I'm definitely going to the Frantziskonis/Cauthorn performance.

More casts. Good to see Pascal Molat back on stage; he should be a good Drosselmeyer. I'm hoping to get to either 12/15 evening to see Park/Greco, and Froustey/Wei Wang (which sounds like an interesting pairing), or 12/16 matinee for everybody, but particularly Frantziskonis/Cauthorn. Terez, enjoy opening night and be sure to let us know what you think of the new flower costumes. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2018, 2 PM Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Pascal Molat Queen and King of the Snow: Frances Chung, Tiit Helmits Sugar Plum Fairy: Sasha De Sola Grand Pas de Deux: WanTing Zhao, Carlo Di Lanno SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2018, 7 PM Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Pascal Molat Queen and King of the Snow: Mathilde Froustey, Wei Wang Sugar Plum Fairy: Frances Chung Grand Pas de Deux: Wona Park, Angelo Greco SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 2 PM Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Ricardo Bustamente Queen and King of the Snow: Jahna Frantziskonis, Max Cauthorn Sugar Plum Fairy: Koto Ishihara Grand Pas de Deux: Dores Andre, Wei Wang SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 7 PM Conductor: Tara Simoncic Drosselmeyer: Alexander Reneff-Olson Queen and King of the Snow: WanTing Zhao, Mingxuan Wang Sugar Plum Fairy: Mathilde Froustey Grand Pas de Deux: Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helmets

First few days of casting : Nutcracker Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Wednesday, December 12, 2018, 7 pm Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Val Caniparoli Queen and King of the Snow: Mathilde Froustey, Carlo Di Lanno Sugar Plum Fairy: Sofiane Sylve Grand Pas de Deux: Sasha De Sola, Aaron Robison Thursday, December 13, 2018, 2 pm Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Alexander Reneff-Olson Queen and King of the Snow: Dores Andre, Luke Ingham Sugar Plum Fairy: Julia Rowe Grand Pas de Deux: Ana Sophia Scheller, Vitor Luiz Thursday, December 13, 2018, 7 pm Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Tiit Helimets Queen and King of the Snow: Norika Matsuyama, Hansuke Yamamoto Sugar Plum Fairy: Sasha De Sola Grand Pas de Deux: Frances Chung, Joseph Walsh Friday, December 14, 2018, 2 pm Conductor: Tara Simoncic Drosselmeyer: Val Caniparoli Queen and King of the Snow: Isabella DeVivo, Max Cauthorn Sugar Plum Fairy: Ana Sophia Scheller Grand Pas de Deux: Jennifer Stahl, Tiit Helimets Friday, December 14, 2018, 7 pm Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Ricardo Bustamente Queen and King of the Snow: Yuan Yuan Tan, Carlo Di Lanno Sugar Plum Fairy: Dores Andre Grand Pas de Deux: Mathilde Froustey, Luke Ingham

Can’t dispute you there. I only saw Fonteyn during the Nureyev years, so she was past her prime, but her knees probably had more artistry than some ‘stars’ have these days in their entire bodies.

I disliked them too: unflattering design and muddy colors - they kind of look like flowers grown in toxic waste, to be brutally honest. The sketches for the new designs look good, especially the longer skirt. The shorter length put too much attention on the knees, and even dancers' knees aren't particularly glamorous.

My mother studied voice when she was young, and had her own unfulfilled aspirations to be an opera singer. She was very critical of most singers (Callas absolutely drove her up a wall), but there were two sopranos about whom she refused to hear a word of criticism: Tebaldi and Caballé. I never heard Caballé live, but even in recordings the purity of her voice was astonishing. Rest in peace.

I’ll second that! I only saw him a few times, but Robison was always very impressive, and he was one of the few saving graces of Frankenstein. I hope this is a permanent return and not just for 2019. SFB is lucky to have such a strong roster of male dancers at all levels.

Good promotions, particularly Park; I've only seen her twice, but she makes an impression, especially for one so apparently young. I agree (hope) that Hummel may be next; she's very musical. Bizalion only showed up on my radar from her Lilac Fairy performance - mature, polished, beautiful port de bras - and I look forward to seeing her development. I'm curious why you think there's pressure to hire from outside, and pressure from whom? I can't imagine that anyone (audience, hiring committee, whatever) who knows enough about ballet to recognize genuine talent, as opposed to performers of stupid pet tricks, wouldn't acknowledge the talent in the soloist and corps ranks and prefer to see promotions from within whenever possible. Strongin would seem likely to take over Kochetkova's spot; very different type of dancer but Kochetkova is unique anyway - no point trying to 'replace' her. Of course, when the inevitable retirements of Tan and Sylve happen, then I can see bringing in from outside if the soloist women haven't developed enough to take on principal. In any case, interesting to see what happens down the road.

I’ve been Googling for reviews for a few days and nothing at all, not even the SJ Mercury, which seems to post reviews fairly promptly, and nothing from SFGate so far. Very curious. The best news in Macaulay’s review is that Joseph Walsh is back on stage, although Franziskonis’ partner is listed in the on-line Casting as corps dancer Joseph Warton. Given that later in the review, Alonzo King’s ballet 'The Collective Agreement' is referred to in shortened form as ‘Argument’ (“As in Mr. King’s ‘Argument’, these duets…”), it’s a little hard to know what, if anything, is correct. Anyway, it sounds like the first three each had various merits; I look forward to hearing other opinions from BTers.

Just got the email myself. Surprised and sorry to see her leave. I wonder if there will be a place for her at ABT, or maybe she's just going to freelance for a while. She will be missed, and it will be interesting to see where she ends up next. Lucky company that gets her. The question has to be asked, will this leave room for another promotion? The female principal group is a strong one, but with Tan and Sylve approaching retirement age, and Kochetkova leaving, I hope that leaves an opening for Lauren Strongin.

For my money, Keesler is no more than competent; there’s none of the technical proficiency and especially the movement flow and beauty that I look for. Although she’s certainly photogenic, she’s just never stood out in any other way. I’d certainly prefer any of the dancers Pherank mentions, particularly Hummel, always watchable, and Park, who was simply lovely in Serenade (I’m really interested to see if/how newcomer Park will develop over the next few seasons).

And she still dances that way; plus, she can act. One of the best all-around dancers in the company.