sf_herminator

Casting for the first two nights of Program 1 & opening night for Program 2: PROGRAM 1 Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - 7:30 pm HAFFNER SYMPHONY Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Martin West Maria Kochetkova, Angelo Greco* World Premiere FRAGILE VESSELS Choreography: Jiří Bubeníček Music: Sergei Rachmaninov Conductor: Martin West First Movement Sofiane Sylve*, Carlo Di Lanno* Dores André*, Francisco Mungamba* Mathilde Froustey*, Wei Wang* Second Movement Dores André*, Joseph Walsh*, Wei Wang* Third Movement Sofiane Sylve*, Carlo Di Lanno* Mathilde Froustey*, Francisco Mungamba*, Wei Wang* Dores André*, Joseph Walsh* IN THE COUNTENANCE OF KINGS Choreography: Justin Peck Music and Original Orchestrations: Sufjan Stevens Orchestration for San Francisco Ballet: Michael P. Atkinson Conductor: Martin West Quantus: Dores André Electress: Frances Chung Botanica: Jennifer Stahl The Protagonist: Joseph Walsh The Foil: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira The Hero: Luke Ingham Wednesday, January 25, 2017 - 7:30 pm HAFFNER SYMPHONY Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Conductor: Martin West Vanessa Zahorian, Taras Domitro* FRAGILE VESSELS Choreography: Jiří Bubeníček Music: Sergei Rachmaninov Conductor: Martin West First Movement Jennifer Stahl*, Carlo Di Lanno Dores André, Francisco Mungamba Mathilde Froustey, Wei Wang Second Movement Dores André, Joseph Walsh, Wei Wang Third Movement Jennifer Stahl*, Carlo Di Lanno Mathilde Froustey, Francisco Mungamba, Wei Wang Dores André, Joseph Walsh IN THE COUNTENANCE OF KINGS Choreography: Justin Peck Music and Original Orchestrations: Sufjan Stevens Orchestration for San Francisco Ballet: Michael P. Atkinson Conductor: Martin West Quantus: Dores André Electress: Frances Chung Botanica: Jennifer Stahl The Protagonist: Joseph Walsh The Foil: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira The Hero: Luke Ingham PROGRAM 2 Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 7:30 pm SEVEN SONATAS Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky Music: Domenico Scarlatti Pianist: Mungunchimeg Buriad Mathilde Froustey, Joseph Walsh Frances Chung, Angelo Greco* Sofiane Sylve, Carlo Di Lanno World Premiere OPTIMISTIC TRAGEDY Choreography: Yuri Possokhov Music: Ilya Demutsky Conductor: Martin West Lorena Feijóo* Luke Ingham*, Taras Domitro* PAS/PARTS 2016 Choreography: William Forsythe Music: Thom Willems Maria Kochetkova Frances Chung Dores André Sasha De Sola Julia Rowe Sofiane Sylve Jennifer Stahl Skyla Schreter Carlo Di Lanno Francisco Mungamba James Sofranko Diego Cruz Joseph Walsh Wei Wang Henry Sidford *Denotes premiere in ballet Link to casting: https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting Program 1 Info: https://www.sfballet.org/season/repertory/program-01 Program 2 Info: https://www.sfballet.org/season/repertory/program-02

Thanks, I did update it to Pennsylvania Ballet Academy. I am always happy to see dancers passing on their knowledge to future generations.

I saw the announcement on FB I also received an email. I was not expecting this. There are so many performances - both individually and together - I can remember. I think for most people it would be Romeo & Juliet. I am sad to see them go. Merde to a great season and best wishes in their future roles with Pennsylvania Ballet Academy!!

Link to casting: https://www.sfballet.org/season/casting Very excited to see Wei Wang debut in the PDD with Lauren. I remember the first time I ever saw Wei in Nutcracker in 2012, dancing the Chinese dance - definite WOW!!! And he had the sweetest reaction when the audience applauded.... Also nice to see Pascal dancing Drosselmeyer!! Here's additional casting (12/16-12/20): Friday, December 16, 2016 - 2 pm Conductor: Matilda Hofman Drosselmeyer: Val Caniparoli Queen and King of the Snow: Sasha De Sola, Daniel Deivson-Oliveira Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Stahl Grand Pas de Deux: Lauren Strongin, Wei Wang* Friday, December 16, 2016 - 7 pm Conductor: Matilda Hofman Drosselmeyer: Ricardo Bustamante Queen and King of the Snow: Mathilde Froustey, Carlo Di Lanno Sugar Plum Fairy: Jahna Frantziskonis* Grand Pas de Deux: Sofiane Sylve, Tiit Helimets Saturday, December 17, 2016 - 2 pm Conductor: Martin West Drosselmeyer: Ricardo Bustamante Queen and King of the Snow: Lauren Strongin, Hansuke Yamamoto Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Stahl Grand Pas de Deux: Julia Rowe*, Angelo Greco* Saturday, December 17, 2016 - 7 pm Conductor: Martin West Drosselmeyer: Pascal Molat Queen and King of the Snow: Lorena Feijoo, Jaime Garcia Castilla Sugar Plum Fairy: Sasha De Sola Grand Pas de Deux: Frances Chung, Joseph Walsh Sunday, December 18, 2016 - 2 pm Conductor: Martin West Drosselmeyer: Pascal Molat Queen and King of the Snow: Elizabeth Mateer*, Steven Morse Sugar Plum Fairy: Julia Rowe Grand Pas de Deux: Sarah Van Patten, Aaron Robison* Sunday, December 18, 2016 - 7 pm Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Ruben Martin Cintas Queen and King of the Snow: WanTing Zhao, Tiit Helimets Sugar Plum Fairy: Sofiane Sylve Grand Pas de Deux: Mathilde Froustey, Carlo Di Lanno Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - 2 pm Conductor: Martin West Drosselmeyer: Ruben Martin Cintas Queen and King of the Snow: Isabella DeVivo*, Max Cauthorn Sugar Plum Fairy: Mathilde Froustey Grand Pas de Deux: Koto Ishihara, Hansuke Yamamoto* Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - 7 pm Conductor: Ming Luke Drosselmeyer: Val Caniparoli Queen and King of the Snow: Sasha De Sola, Aaron Robison Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Stahl Grand Pas de Deux: Lorena Feijoo, Carlos Quenedit

So happy to see Julia and Angelo will be dancing the PDD. I haven't seen Angelo yet, but a really big fan of Julia. I thought Jahna danced SPF last year - I found last season's discussion thread:

As noted in the article above and the following article, Carla Korbes was going to dance in Wheeldon's After the Rain PDD for Benjamin Millepied's LA Dance Project: http://hauteliving.com/2016/12/benjamin-millepied-dishes-on-the-la-dance-projects-homecoming/625416/ I was down in LA for a few days and luckily was able to get a couple of tickets for Saturday's performance. Imagine my surprise when I opened the program and saw who Carla's partner was - Batkhurel Bold!!! Here is a review from the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-la-dance-project-review-20161211-story.html I had seen Bold before in Tide Harmonic, but this was my first time seeing Carla. They were simply wonderful!!

Yes, there will be more performances to be announced. Nutcracker will be onstage through Thursday 12/29. I would expect to see other dancers and hopefully more debuts.

Casting for performances 12/10-12/15 has been posted: https://www.sfballet.org/casting?source=26030&utm_source=mail2&utm_campaign=17_Nutcracker_Casting_1210-15&cmp=1&utm_medium=email Nice to see the return of Sarah Van Patten & Jaime Garcia Castilla. Also nice to see new dancers Aaron Robison & Elizabeth Mateer. Lastly, how exciting for the role debuts of Mathilde Froustey (Snow Queen), Norika Matsuyama (Snow Queen), Francisco Mungamba (Snow King), and Isabella DeVivo (Sugar Plum Fairy) NUTCRACKER Choreography: Helgi Tomasson Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Conductor: Martin West Saturday, December 10, 2016 - 7 pm Snow Queen: Mathilde Froustey* Snow King: Carlo Di Lanno Sugar Plum Fairy: Sofiane Sylve Grand Pas de Deux: Vanessa Zahorian Grand Pas de Deux: Davit Karapetyan Sunday, December 11, 2016 - 2 pm Snow Queen: Sarah Van Patten Snow King: Carlos Quenedit Sugar Plum Fairy: Julia Rowe Grand Pas de Deux: Dores André Grand Pas de Deux: Luke Ingham Sunday, December 11, 2016 - 7 pm Snow Queen: Lorena Feijoo Snow King: Jaime Garcia Castilla Sugar Plum Fairy: Mathilde Froustey Grand Pas de Deux: Sasha De Sola Grand Pas de Deux: Taras Domitro Tuesday, December 13, 2016 - 2 pm Snow Queen: Dores André Snow King: Luke Ingham Sugar Plum Fairy: Elizabeth Mateer* Grand Pas de Deux: Sarah Van Patten Grand Pas de Deux: Aaron Robison* Tuesday, December 13, 2016 - 7 pm Snow Queen: Norika Matsuyama* Snow King: Hansuke Yamamoto Sugar Plum Fairy: Sasha De Sola Grand Pas de Deux: Sofiane Sylve Grand Pas de Deux: Tiit Helimets Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - 2 pm Snow Queen: Frances Chung Snow King: Joseph Walsh Sugar Plum Fairy: Mathilde Froustey Grand Pas de Deux: Lorena Feijoo Grand Pas de Deux: Carlos Quenedit Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - 7 pm Snow Queen: Vanessa Zahorian Snow King: Taras Domitro Sugar Plum Fairy: Norika Matsuyama Grand Pas de Deux: Maria Kochetkova Grand Pas de Deux: Vitor Luiz Thursday, December 15, 2016 - 2 pm Snow Queen: Koto Ishihara Snow King: Francisco Mungamba* Sugar Plum Fairy: Isabella DeVivo* Grand Pas de Deux: Frances Chung Grand Pas de Deux: Joseph Walsh Thursday, December 15, 2016 - 7 pm Snow Queen: WanTing Zhao Snow King: Tiit Helimets Sugar Plum Fairy: Elizabeth Mateer Grand Pas de Deux: Vanessa Zahorian Grand Pas de Deux: Davit Karapetyan

Here's a pic from PNB's Instagram page of Saturday's cast with William Forsythe:

I found a link to casting here: http://www.musiccenter.org/about/Our-Programs/1617-Season/Celebrate-Forsythe/ If you scroll down a bit there is a section on the right 'Engagement Casting' which will pull up the PDF of casting for each performance. So dancing tonight are Rachel Foster, Angelica Generosa, Elizabeth Murphy, Ezra Thomson, and Dylan Wald. The Friday cast will dance again on Sunday afternoon. Helene - Yes, the dancers in front of me were Dylan (actually he was off to the side with Angelica), Ezra, and Elizabeth. I had previously met Dylan when he (along with Elle Macy & Steven Loch) came to see SFB during the Onegin run. I had complimented Ezra on his performance as Mercutio (and forgot to tell him I also saw him in Waiting at the Station) and Ezra was flattered. He told me he was really excited about Cendrillon. I told them I was planning to come up for Director's Choice. Dylan asked me if I was coming again. I said unfortunately no - but this was before I knew that they would be dancing tonight. I am tempted, but not sure if I want to make the trek up to LA again (I am staying in Orange County - it took me two hours to drive up to the performance last night!! But it should really not take more than one hour....).

I was fortunate enough to see the program tonight. Here was the order: San Francisco Ballet: Pas/Parts 2016 PausePacific Northwest Ballet: The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude IntermissionHouston Ballet: Artifact Suite Note: recorded music was used except for the second half of Artifact Suite, which is always performed to a live pianist. (I will only comment on PNB here since it is the PNB forum....) Dancing in tonight's performance of Vertiginous: Leta Biasucci, Carrie Imler, Margaret Mullin, Benjamin Griffiths, Jonathan Porretta I thought everyone was great tonight. My favorite was Leta Biasucci - there was just something about her that really drew my eye to her. During intermission, I was in line for the bar and looked up to realize there were other PNB dancers in front of me At the end of the performance, all the dancers came out for bows, and then William Forsythe joined the dancers on stage. It was a great moment and a great night of dancing!!! I would be curious to know if any other dancers are performing or if these dancers are in all three performances this weekend.

I agree with Helene - any of the women would be wonderful. Kochetkova debuted the role first in SF, with Joan Boada as Prince Guillaume. This would be a debut for Walsh, and the first time the two have danced a full length together (AFAIK). They have danced together in Serenade and DAAG. Walsh was a wonderful Franz (to Andre's Swanilda last season) and I have no doubt he will be great as Guillaume. Andre has danced Clementine (the sweet stepsister). This is her debut as Cinderella. Ingham has danced Prince Guillaume with both Yuan Yuan Tan and Chung. Andre and Ingham debuted as Romeo & Juliet in 2015 (which blew me away). Chung danced Clementine in the first SF performance, then debuted as Cinderella a few nights later. Her first Guillaume was Ingham, and then the following season danced with Davit Karapetyan. I can't remember if Quenedit has danced Guillaume before. If I had to pick one, I would probably go with Chung. But any one would be a great choice.

A piece about Arthur PIta, who is creating a work for Program 5, has been posted on the blog: http://sfballetblog.org/2016/08/who-is-arthur-pita/ I saw the DVD of The Metamorphosis with Edward Watson - it was spectacular!! So I was really curious to see what he would do with SFB. Mathilde Froustey posted this peek on her Instagram: This looks to be a very exciting piece and I can't wait to see it!!!!!

Here are a couple of posts from Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFv3WVXoVvP/?taken-by=vzahorian https://www.instagram.com/p/BFwFH2CTdr5/?taken-by=vitomazzeo

This season Lorena performed in Forsythe's Pas/Parts, Liam Scarlett's Fearful Symmetries, Robbins' Dances at a Gathering (Green), Possokhov's Swimmer, and Ratmansky's Seven Sonatas.

Chisako Oga posted on her Instagram that she is joining Cincinnati Ballet: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFKkoNmBq6P/?taken-by=coga715

Jahna posted this short vid on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFK6uczQbYM/?taken-by=jahnagram I had the chance to speak with them briefly after yesterday's Onegin performance. I complimented Jahna on her performance as Olga - really I should have complimented her on the entire season.

Here's a pic after Wednesday's performance Jahna posted on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFA7AkgQbb1/?taken-by=jahnagram

Yes, I went on Sunday for Luke/YY and tonight (Tues) for Vitor/Maria. First off, I have to say the ballet has grown on me. I remember seeing it back in 2011 and 2012 when SFB first performed it and thought it was just OK. Seeing it again this year both casts have been wonderful. Luke and Vitor were wonderful partners to YY and Maria, especially in the Act 1 & Act 3 PDD. I am also happy to report that both Lensky/Olga casts (Joseph Walsh and Jahna Frantziskonis on Sunday, Lonnie Weeks and Norika Matsuyama on Tues) were also excellent. With tonight's performance, Joan Boada as Prince Gremin closed his career with SFB in fine form. I will be seeing Onegin again on Thursday (Carlo, Mathilde, and Ben debuting as Onegin, Tatiana, and Lensky), Friday (Sasha's debut as Olga) and Sunday (Gennadi's final performance).

Just got home from today's performance of Onegin. The ballet is better than I remember, and everyone was spectacular. Of course, I know you all want to know how Jahna was. I have to say that of all the performances I have seen of Olga, Jahna is my favorite. I really think she was able to show what a fun loving character Olga is and then later show the anguish at the fate of Lensky (the dashing Joseph Walsh). And her dancing was wonderful as well. There were a few PNB dancers in attendance as well. I had a feeling there would be when I saw the following Instagram posts: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE14IV1I9BM/?taken-by=waldylan https://www.instagram.com/p/BE4r2a5I9Js/?taken-by=waldylan https://www.instagram.com/p/BE2DgrNka8P/?taken-by=stevizzle57968 I had the chance to speak with them before and after the performance and we all agreed she was wonderful!! Jahna will dance again on Wednesday night.

Casting for the entire run of Onegin now posted: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting Some exciting debuts (in addition to Lauren Strongin, Jahna Frantziskonis and Norika Matsuyama as Olga, Lonnie Quinn as Lensky, and Joan Boada as Gremin): Carlo DiLanno/Mathilde Froustey as Onegin/Tatiana Benjamin Fremantle as Lensky Sasha De Sola as Olga Also of note: Gennadi will dance his final performance with SFB as Lensky during the final performance of the season on Sunday 5/8. In the event of injury or illness, casting is subject to change. ^Premiere in role +Premiere in SF Ballet production Onegin - Wednesday, May 04, 2016 - 7:30pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Martin West Onegin: Luke Ingham Tatiana: Yuan Yuan Tan Lensky: Joseph Walsh Olga: Jahna Frantziskonis Gremin: Tiit Helimets Onegin - Thursday, May 05, 2016 - 7:30pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Ming Luke Onegin: Carlo Di Lanno^ Tatiana: Mathilde Froustey^ Lensky: Benjamin Freemantle^+ Olga: Dores André Gremin: Rubén Martín Cintas Onegin - Friday, May 06, 2016 - 8:00pmComposer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Martin West Onegin: Davit Karapetyan Tatiana: Vanessa Zahorian Lensky: Myles Thatcher Olga: Sasha De Sola^ Gremin: Rubén Martín Cintas Onegin - Saturday, May 07, 2016 - 2:00pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Martin West Onegin: Carlo Di Lanno Tatiana: Mathilde Froustey Lensky: Benjamin Freemantle Olga: Dores André Gremin: Tiit Helimets Onegin - Saturday, May 07, 2016 - 8:00pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Ming Luke Onegin: Davit Karapetyan Tatiana: Vanessa Zahorian Lensky: Myles Thatcher Olga: Sasha De Sola Gremin: Rubén Martín Cintas Onegin - Sunday, May 08, 2016 - 2:00pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Martin West Onegin: Carlo Di Lanno Tatiana: Mathilde Froustey Lensky: Gennadi Nedvigin Olga: Lauren Strongin Gremin: Rubén Martín Cintas

Joan was the Meet the Artist Interview on Sunday 4/10 prior to the performance. Unfortunately, I did not go. Luckily, SFB has posted a podcast of the interview. He states that he is going to be working with Magaly Suarez (a former teacher of his in Cuba and mother of Principal Dancer Taras Domitro). She has a school in Florida and Joan will be working with her there. Link to Joan's Interview podcast: http://podcast.sfballet.org/2016/2016-04-10_MTA.mp3 (mention of his future plans are at the 8:30 mark) Link to all Meet the Artist podcasts: https://www.sfballet.org/interact/listen/meet_the_artist_podcasts.

Casting now up for the first three performances of Onegin (six more to go....). It's really exciting to see some corps dancers getting the chance to dance Olga and Lensky. Merde to everyone!!! Onegin - Saturday, April 30, 2016 - 8pm—Opening Night Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Martin West Onegin: Vitor Luiz Tatiana: Maria Kochetkova Lensky: Gennadi Nedvigin Olga: Lauren Strongin^+ Gremin: Joan Boada^ Onegin - Sunday, May 01, 2016 - 2pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Martin West Onegin: Luke Ingham Tatiana: Yuan Yuan Tan Lensky: Joseph Walsh Olga: Jahna Frantziskonis^+ Gremin: Tiit Helimets Onegin - Tuesday, May 03, 2016 - 7:30pm Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: John Cranko Conductor: Martin West Onegin: Vitor Luiz Tatiana: Maria Kochetkova Lensky: Lonnie Weeks^ Olga: Norika Matsuyama^+ Gremin: Joan Boada In the event of injury or illness, casting is subject to change. ^Premiere in role +Premiere in SF Ballet production https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting

Jahna Frantziskonis will be making her debut as Olga in John Cranko's Onegin on Sunday 5/1: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting So looking forward to this!!!

Apologies for the late reply. The article talked about the costumes Lauren Strongin and Jahna Frantziskonis would have loved to have kept and their fashion icons. The title of the article was 'SF Ballet Dancers Channel A Pair of Hepburns'. Lauren loves Katharine Hepburn, while Jahna's fashion icon is Audrey Hepburn. Really unfortunate that this article is only available to subscribers. It was available briefly on sfgate.com but changed not too long after my post.