Waelsung

I think it's so sad they're not bringing any Grigorovich ballets to NY. I'd love to see any of them, but especially Ivan the Terrible and Legend of Love.

Any non-subscribers actually went to the box office today? Was it very crowded? How did it go in general?

I used to hold two Orchestra subscriptions for ages, but cancelled them four years ago, when I realized that I would fare much better by just going to the BO and purchasing the seats I want myself (because of my bad knee I am very particular about the location of my seats)

Once I started buying single tickets instead of subscriptions I also realized that I didn't need to see as many performances as I used to. Every performance became a debate, and quite often the frugal and the lazy sides of me won.

Nowadays it's down to really a couple of performances per Met season. I don't care for Ratmansky and will never pay even a dime to see his choreography. I'm not a fan of neither Misty, nor Hee. I also happen to think that dancers come out of retirement for reasons that are rather financial than artistic, and thus more often than not simply embarrass themselves.

Where does all this leave me exactly for the upcoming season? Maybe a Part. Maybe a Semionova. Maybe a Vishneva/Gomes. But that's about it. Kick the dynamic prices in and I'd much rather spend the dough on a nice dinner followed by a night in front of TV watching my favorite ballerina of yesteryear and today on blu-ray.

In ye olde days, think the Kirkland, Makarova, Baryshnikov, Gregory , etc, years, ABT would have many shows almost completely sold out before the box office opened.

Yeah, but they didn't get to see any ballets by Ratmansky, did they now?

From what I can see nothing...not Ferri, not Copeland, is well sold, other than center orchestra which has been "pulled" for those performances.

Not enough ballets by Ratmansky, thus lackluster sales. How about the whole season completely choreographed by him?

Does anybody know if this run was produced by Ardani or does BAM always produce its programs itself?

Btw, was your wife able to give Lopatkina the gift she brought for her?

Unfortunately, no. We waited by the Stage Exit for about an hour, and when UL still has not come out, we left - it was getting pretty cold and pretty late.

Hope, there will be other opportunities - Dear Ms. Lopatkina, please come back to New York soon!

It was an Epiphany night at BAM.

I can't believe my own luck that I was there to witness it.

116 saint felix street-BAM stafe door

I was told (despite of UL request) there is no meet and greet after the show. However, if her representative manages, they will try to organize some compromise (informally) by the stsge door

Thank you so much!!!!

By the way, does anybody know where the Stage Exit at the BAM is? My wife would love to meet Lopatkina and is bringing her a present, but where do we find her after the performance ends?

Thanks in advance!

I agree completely that the second half was much more impressive. And yes, Firebird took me by surprise, too.

Can't wait for tomorrow.

I saw Program B tonight, and it was absolutely ravishing, especially the second half.

I was very pleasantly surprised by Osmolkina's performance, but the night clearly belonged to Lopatkina who is just as divine as ever.

I seriously doubt this season ABT will have a lot of 'hard-to-get' shows.

Ferri's R&J, obviously, Mistys, maybe Semionovas, but that's about it.

NYC fans of the Mariinsky Ballet would be more satisfied by taking the Megabus to DC on that weekend and seeing Raymonda at the Kenn Cen. The r/t bus ticket, local transport & a 2nd Tier sides matinee ballet ticket might be cheaper than a ticket to the BAM Maya tribute for three minutes of Lopatkina in Dying Swan danced on a tiny space in front of an orchestra...let alone having to sit through more Vishneva Eurotrash. Save money and see 3 hours (not 3 minutes) of real ballet in DC, with the orchestra in the pit and the dancers on a proper stage.

Sad, but true. Very sad and absolutely true.

It looks like we're gettting closer and closer to an ABT at the Met season entirely choreographed by Ratmansky((((((

Thanks. You've confirmed my suspicion that I have no interest in seeing it. And what does this work have to do with paying tribute to Plisetskaya? Anything? Or just a false advertising game?

I think you're absolutely right, abatt, this does suspiciously sound like another 'lemon' (pun intended) cooked up by Ardani Artists: a program with probably 30-40 minutes of dancing, underrehearsed, underproduced and ridiculously overpriced.

If they sell performances, not performers, why does the price for same seat tickets vary from one performance of the same ballet to another?

To be honest, I am more concerned with who will be dancing the main parts rather than the ballets performed. After all, the warhorses like Giselle, SL, SB, R&J, La bayadere, Cinderella will be generously represented anyway, so I just hope that we get to see some foreign ballerinas who are not necessarily Ardani clients.

For instance, a Raymonda with Lopatkina would be a major season event.

Just sayin':)

If you click on an available seat to select it a smaller window will pop up with the seat row and number in it

I also wonder whether ABT will refund the difference in tickets prices. Osipova and Semionova performances command higher prices than the ones with Seo.

Of course, it's a purely rhetorical question: we all know that no refunds will be issued and the ridiculous dynamic pricing system will remain in effect.

This, btw, is one more reason why I'm never in a rush to purchase any ABT tickets nowadays. If I overpay to see my favorite dancers I'd like to be as certain as possible they will actually be performing.

Boy, am I glad I still have not bought a single ticket for this season. With Seo replacing Semionova I would have been furious now.

I also find it very amusing that we now have two major ballerinas refusing to participate in Ratmansky's SB.

It sure promises to be a very interesting season.

Interesting to be watched from the sidelines, that is:)

I have a question about cast decision as well. If I do decide to see the new SB in NY after all, I'd definitely want to avoid Vishneva - just can't fathom a credible Aurora pushing 40. Plus, ever since Vishneva started doing her solo programs of modern dance her body became too athletic for classical ballet. I'm not really interested in all this muscle.

Neither am I too keen on Osipova's take of Aurora.

So, what options does this leave me with? What would be the best cast to see besides Vishneva and Osipova? What do esteemed members of this forum think?

I am beginning to seriously consider S.Lane, but would love to hear other opinions.

Thanks a lot in advance everybody!

Very exciting news!

Maybe the fact that Marcelo is no longer dancing Bayadere contributed to Vishneva's decision not to dance it at ABT this season. I'll bet she was mighty pleased when the casting reshuffle caused by Hallberg's cancellations resulted in her getting Marcelo as her Giselle partner instead of Hallberg.

The question is why was she cast with anyone other than Gomes in the first place.

My question is why she was cast at all:)

Yermolaev was a fantastic Rothbart, so overpowering and menacing, gave me chills.

Andrey Ermakov. Or Andrei Yermakov,

either will do.

Thanks to all for very interesting reviews and comments.

Sorry, it was very late when I typed it last night. Will correct immediately. My apologies again.