sf_herminator
-
Posts
527 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Forums
Events
Blogs
Store
Posts posted by sf_herminator
-
-
George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream returns to the stage after a very brief run in 2020. The opening night performance on Friday 3/6 also turned out to be the closing performance when the mayor declared all venues closed due to beginning of the COVID pandemic. There was a student performance earlier that day. A final performance was put together a few days later which was recorded for subscribers to access.
Since it had been over 30 years since SFB last performed Midsummer, there were multiple debuts that never happened. Here is a link to the thread from 2020: https://balletalert.invisionzone.com/topic/45357-sfb-program-4-a-midsummer-nights-dream/#comment-422928
Following was the principal cast for the March 6 performance (full casting may not have been posted):
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Fri, March 6 at 8:00 pm
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Choreographer: George Balanchine
Conductor: Martin West
Chorus: Volti
Singers: Gabrielle Haigh, Alice Del SimonePuck: Esteban Hernandez*†
Oberon: Joseph Walsh*†
Titania: Yuan Yuan Tan*†Lead Butterfly: Wona Park*†
Hippolyta: Jennifer Stahl*†
Pas de Deux: Misa Kuranaga‡, Angelo Greco*†Hopefully, principal casting will be up after the Swan Lake run.
-
Full cast for the opening night performance of Swan Lake - https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/
Friday, February 23, 8:00 PM
- Conductor: Martin West
- Violin: Cordula Merks
- Cello: Eric Sung
- Odette-Odile: NIKISHA FOGO
- Prince Siegfried: AARON ROBISON
- Von Rothbart: NATHANIEL REMEZ
- Queen Mother: Katita Waldo
- Wolfgang, The Tutor: Ricardo Bustamante
PROLOGUE
Odette, Von Rothbart
ACT I – OUTSIDE THE PALACE
Prince Siegfried, Queen Mother, Wolfgang
- Pas de Trois: KATHERINE BARKMAN, ESTEBAN HERNÁNDEZ, ISABELLA DEVIVO
- Aristocrats: Kamryn Baldwin, Thamires Chuvas, Gabriela Gonzalez, Elizabeth Mateer, Anatalia St. Clair, Rubén Cítores Nieto, Luca Ferrò, Steven Morse, Joshua Jack Price, Mingxuan Wang
- Peasants: Sofia Albers, Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Maya Chandrashekaran, Jihyun Choi, Mimi Lamar, Katharine Lee, Carmela Mayo, Swane Messaoudi, Pemberley Ann Olson, Tyla Steinbach, Seojeong Yun, Benjamin Davidoff, Lleyton Ho, Andris Kundzins, Simone Pompignoli, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Francisco Valdes
- Ladies in Waiting, Guards, Peasants, and Children: Supernumeraries and Students of San Francisco Ballet School
– INTERMISSION –
ACT II – THE LAKESIDE
Odette, Prince Siegfried, Von Rothbart
- Cygnets: Katherine Barkman, Isabella DeVivo, Norika Matsuyama, Julia Rowe
- Swan Maidens: Kamryn Baldwin and Sasha Mukhamedov
- Swans: Sofia Albers, Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Jihyun Choi, Thamires Chuvas, Jacey Gailliard, Gabriela Gonzalez, Katharine Lee, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo, Swane Messaoudi, Pemberley Ann Olson, Anatalia St. Clair, Tyla Steinbach, Angela Watson, Victoria Wright, Seojeong Yun
– INTERMISSION –
ACT III – THE PALACE BALLROOM
Odile, Prince Siegfried, Von Rothbart, Queen Mother, Wolfgang
- Spanish Princess: Sasha Mukhamedov with Rubén Cítores Nieto and Mingxuan Wang
- Czardas Princess: Anatalia St. Clair with Daniel Deivison-Oliveira and Samantha Bristow, SunMin Lee, Carmela Mayo, Swane Messaoudi, Andris Kundzins, João Percilio da Silva, Jacob Seltzer, Alexis Francisco Valdes
- Neapolitan Princess: Julia Rowe with Cavan Conley
- Russian Princesses: Kamryn Baldwin and Thamires Chuvas with Joshua Jack Price and Steven Morse
- Master of Ceremonies: Benjamin Davidoff
- Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court: Students of San Francisco Ballet School
Grand Pas de Deux: Odile and Prince Siegfried
ACT IV – THE LAKESIDE
Odette, Prince Siegfried, Von Rothbart, Swans
*Casting subject to change
-
Principal Dancer Sasha De Sola will be the Artist in the opening night's Meet the Artist Interview.
Principal Dancer Joseph Walsh will be the Artist in Sunday's Meet the Artist Interview.
https://www.sfballet.org/productions/meet-the-artist-interviews/
-
Cygnets rehearsing: https://fb.watch/qkPHwB2for/
-
-
Principal Casting has been posted for Swan Lake, which runs from Friday 2/23 through Sunday 3/3
CASTING - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org) - *CASTING SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson
Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Black Swan Pas de Deux and Act II Choreography: after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Additional Principal Coaching: Julio Bocca
Scenic and Costume Design: Jonathan Fensom
Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
Friday, February 23, 8:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Nikisha Fogo
- Prince Siegfried: Aaron Robison
- Von Rothbart: Nathaniel Remez
Saturday, February 24, 2:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Frances Chung
- Prince Siegfried: Joseph Walsh
- Von Rothbart: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira
Saturday, February 24, 8:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Sasha De Sola
- Prince Siegfried: Isaac Hernández
- Von Rothbart: Alexander Reneff-Olson
Sunday, February 25, 2:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Wona Park
- Prince Siegfried: Wei Wang
- Von Rothbart: Nathaniel Remez
Tuesday, February 27, 8:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Nikisha Fogo
- Prince Siegfried: Aaron Robison
- Von Rothbart: Nathaniel Remez
Wednesday, February 28, 8:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Frances Chung
- Prince Siegfried: Joseph Walsh
- Von Rothbart: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira
Thursday, February 29, 8:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Sasha De Sola
- Prince Siegfried: Isaac Hernández
- Von Rothbart: Alexander Reneff-Olson
Friday, March 1, 8:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Wona Park
- Prince Siegfried: Wei Wang
- Von Rothbart: Nathaniel Remez
Saturday, March 2, 2:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Nikisha Fogo
- Prince Siegfried: Aaron Robison
- Von Rothbart: Nathaniel Remez
Saturday, March 2, 8:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Frances Chung
- Prince Siegfried: Joseph Walsh
- Von Rothbart: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira
Sunday, March 3, 2:00 PM
- Odette-Odile: Sasha De Sola
- Prince Siegfried: Isaac Hernández
- Von Rothbart: Alexander Reneff-Olson
Please note there will be an Encore of Swan Lake to end the season. There will be 7 performances beginning April 30 through May 5 with guest artists. No news yet as to who will be the guest artists. SWAN LAKE ENCORE - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)
-
From SFB's IG: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3VYs81Lm3J/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
This is the last part of the video shown Saturday night prior to the start of Marguerite & Armand. It will be shown again at tonight's performance.
From Pointe Magazine's IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3VkmmBx6nT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
-
Meet the Artist interview with pianist Britton Day, conducted prior to the first performance of the British Icons program, is now available for listening: Meet the Artist: Pianist Britton Day - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org).
-
Last night before the start of Marguerite & Armand, a short video clip honoring Yuan Yuan Tan was shown. Accolades came from Helgi Tomasson, Anita Paciotti, Felipe Diaz (who partnered the young YYT in the La Esmeralda PDD), Tiit Helimets, Yuri Possokhov, John Neumeier, and Christopher Wheeldon. Brief snippets included Swan Lake, The Little Mermaid, RaKU, and La Esmeralda. It will most likely be played again Wednesday night.
-
Full casting for the opening night of British Icons has been posted: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/
SONG OF THE EARTH (SFB Premiere)
- Choreographer: Sir Kenneth MacMillan
- Composer: Gustav Mahler
- Staged by: Grant Coyle and Edward Watson
- Additional Principal Coaching: Tamara Rojo
- Scenic and Costume Design: Nicholas Georgiadis
- Lighting Design: Jacopo Pantani
Conductor: Martin West
The Singers: Gabrielle Beteag, Moisés Salazar
The Messenger of Death: Wei Wang
First Song: Isaac Hernández, Joshua Jack Price, Cavan Conley, Mingxuan Wang, Luca Ferrò, João Percilio da Silva
Second Song: Wona Park, Jasmine Jimison, Katherine Barkman, Julia Rowe, Joshua Jack Price, Luca Ferrò, Cavan Conley, Mingxuan Wang
Third Song: Jasmine Jimison, Kamryn Baldwin, Tyla Steinbach, Angela Watson, Gabriela Gonzalez, Alexis Francisco Valdes, Jacob Seltzer, Jasper True Stanford, Parker Garrison
Fourth Song: Katherine Barkman, Julia Rowe, Jihyun Choi, Kamryn Baldwin, Tyla Steinbach, Angela Watson, Gabriela Gonzalez, Cavan Conley, João Percilio da Silva, Joshua Jack Price, Alexis Francisco Valdes, Jacob Seltzer, Jasper True Stanford, Parker Garrison
Fifth Song: Isaac Hernández, Cavan Conley, Luca Ferrò
Sixth Song: Wona Park, Isaac Hernández, Jasmine Jimison, Katherine Barkman, Julia Rowe, Jihyun Choi, Luca Ferrò, Cavan Conley, Mingxuan Wang, Joshua Jack Price, Kamryn Baldwin, Tyla Steinbach, Angela Watson, Gabriela Gonzalez, Alexis Francisco Valdes, Jacob Seltzer, Jasper True Stanford, Parker Garrison
MARGUERITE AND ARMAND (SFB Premiere)
- Choreographer: Sir Frederick Ashton
- Composer: Franz Liszt
- Staged by: Grant Coyle
- Additional Principal Coaching: Tamara Rojo
- Scenic and Costume Design: Cecil Beaton
- Lighting Design: John B. Read
Conductor: Martin West
Piano: Britton Day
Marguerite: Misa Kuranaga
Armand: Joseph Walsh
Armand's Father: Ricardo Bustamante
A Duke: Steven Morse
Admirers of Marguerite: Daniel Deivison-Oliveira, Parker Garrison, Andris Kundzins, Davide Occhipinti, João Percilio da Silva, Nathaniel Remez, Alexander Reneff-Olson, Jacob Seltzer
Maid: Anatalia St. Clair
Footmen: Raphaël Brunais Besse, Eduardo Cazarez, Dylan Pierzina, Cooper Meeks, Benjamin Taber, Nicholas Yurkevich
Marguerite's Double: Jihyun Choi
*Casting subject to change
An additional note about tonight's performance:
This evening’s performance of Marguerite and Armand is dedicated in loving memory to Anthony Russell-Roberts CBE.
Anthony Russell-Roberts served as Administrative Director of The Royal Ballet from 1983 to 2009. He was exposed to ballet at a young age through his uncle, Sir Frederick Ashton, with whom he frequently visited the Royal Opera House. He had a notable career in administrative leadership with the Paris Opera and The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. He was a defender of the artform, guiding The Royal Ballet through years of uncertainty. Known for his personable approach to leadership and collaboration with the Artistic Leadership of The Royal Ballet, he was appointed Commander of the British Empire in 2004 for his services to dance. As residual legatee of Sir Frederick Ashton’s ballets and founding member of The Frederick Ashton Foundation, Russell-Roberts was a key figure in preserving the legacy of Ashton’s works for future generations. We hope you join us in honoring Anthony as you attend our opening performance of Marguerite and Armand.
-
On 2/2/2024 at 12:41 PM, Josette said:
There are three tickets left for YY's last performance on February 14! It should be a wonderful performance.
Now there are only 2 tickets available for February 14 - last row in Dress Circle (although it says SOLD OUT on the British Icons page - BRITISH ICONS - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)). I am sure standing will be full.
For Saturday's performance, over 500 tickets available in the Balcony, but a total of 85 for the other sections.
-
SFB's latest IG post - YY and Aaron in studio rehearsal: We’re counting down to the bittersweet farewell to Principal Dancer Yuan Yuan Tan whose rich artistic contribution to the Company has… | Instagram
YY posted this on her IG: Thank you to the San Francisco audiences who supported me for the past 3 decades ❤️🤗🥰 @sfchronicle @msrhoward | Instagram
-
Meet the Artist returns - Meet the Artist Interviews - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org).
Meet the Artist pre-performance talks are on Fridays and Sundays, one hour before curtain. Meet the Artist talks were not scheduled for Mere Mortals (and will not be scheduled during the Mere Mortals Encore in April). But they are back for British Icons.
Friday, February 9 at 7 PM: Britton Day, pianist for Marguerite and Armand, San Francisco Ballet Orchestra Company Pianist
Sunday, February 11 at 1 PM: Edward Watson, répétiteur for Song of the Earth
What a great opportunity to have Edward Watson. Former Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet, he (along with Grant Coyle) set Kenneth MacMillan's Song of the Earth on SFB. There are a couple of interviews with Mr. Watson regarding Song of the Earth:
- Edward Watson on Kenneth MacMillan's Song of the Earth - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)
- Edward Watson on Song of the Earth - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend in person as I will be working in the Gift Shop. Luckily, all Meet the Artist interviews are recorded and available wherever you get your podcasts.
Also note that the Wednesday Pointe of View lectures are on hiatus for this season (as noted in the link above).
-
Today (Thursday 2/1) is the last performance of Mere Mortals - until April
The Encore Program in April (April 18-24) will be the return of Mere Mortals. If you missed it during the initial run OR you want to see it again, you have another chance in April: https://www.sfballet.org/productions/encore-program/
-
Information on Mere Mortals - MERE MORTALS - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)
Rush tickets are available for the Saturday matinee and the weeknight evening performances - use the code LETSGO. More information on the link above under RUSH FOR ALL.
The evening performances include a post performance dance party with a live DJ. Last night was a lot of fun!!
I will post my thoughts on the program after watching today's performances.
-
The second program of the 2024 rep season, British Icons - BRITISH ICONS - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org) includes 2 classic works making their debut at SFB:
- Song of the Earth: Choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Music by Gustav Mahler
- Marguerite and Armand: Choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton, Music by Franz Liszt
*Marguerite and Armand includes the final performances of Principal Dancer Yuan Yuan Tan. She is scheduled to dance on Saturday 2/10 8 PM and Wednesday 2/14 7:30 PM
Principal Casting has been announced - - CASTING - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)
Friday, February 9, 8:00 PM
SONG OF THE EARTH
- Messenger: Wei Wang
- Woman: Nikisha Fogo
- Man: Isaac Hernández
MARGUERITE AND ARMAND
- Marguerite: Misa Kuranaga
- Armand: Joseph Walsh
- Duke: Steven Morse
- Father: Ricardo Bustamante
Saturday, February 10, 2:00 PM
SONG OF THE EARTH
- Messenger: Joshua Jack Price
- Woman: Jennifer Stahl
- Man: Chase O'Connell*
*Guest Artist
MARGUERITE AND ARMAND
- Marguerite: Jasmine Jimison
- Armand: Wei Wang
- Duke: Steven Morse
- Father: Pascal Molat
Saturday, February 10, 8:00 PM
SONG OF THE EARTH
- Messenger: Esteban Hernández
- Woman: Wona Park
- Man: Joseph Walsh
MARGUERITE AND ARMAND
- Marguerite: Yuan Yuan Tan
- Armand: Aaron Robison
- Duke: Steven Morse
- Father: Ricardo Bustamante
Sunday, February 11, 2:00 PM
SONG OF THE EARTH
- Messenger: Joshua Jack Price
- Woman: Sasha De Sola
- Man: Aaron Robison
MARGUERITE AND ARMAND
- Marguerite: Misa Kuranaga
- Armand: Joseph Walsh
- Duke: Steven Morse
- Father: Ricardo Bustamante
Tuesday, February 13, 7:30 PM
SONG OF THE EARTH
- Messenger: Joshua Jack Price
- Woman: Sasha De Sola
- Man: Aaron Robison
MARGUERITE AND ARMAND
- Marguerite: Jasmine Jimison
- Armand: Wei Wang
- Duke: Steven Morse
- Father: Pascal Molat
Wednesday, February 14, 7:30 PM
SONG OF THE EARTH
- Messenger: Wei Wang
- Woman: Nikisha Fogo
- Man: Isaac Hernández
MARGUERITE AND ARMAND
- Marguerite: Yuan Yuan Tan
- Armand: Aaron Robison
- Duke: Steven Morse
- Father: Ricardo Bustamante
Thursday, February 15, 7:30 PM
SONG OF THE EARTH
- Messenger: Esteban Hernández
- Woman: Wona Park
- Man: Joseph Walsh
MARGUERITE AND ARMAND
- Marguerite: Jasmine Jimison
- Armand: Isaac Hernández
- Duke: Steven Morse
- Father: Pascal Molat
-
Principal Casting is now posted for Mere Mortals - CASTING: MERE MORTALS - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)
Friday, January 26, 8:00 PM
- Pandora: Jennifer Stahl
- Prometheus: Isaac Hernández
- Epimetheus: Parker Garrison
- Hope: Wei Wang
Saturday, January 27, 2:00 PM
- Pandora: Nikisha Fogo
- Prometheus: Joseph Walsh
- Epimetheus: Esteban Hernández
- Hope: Wei Wang
Saturday, January 27, 8:00 PM
- Pandora: Jennifer Stahl
- Prometheus: Isaac Hernández
- Epimetheus: Parker Garrison
- Hope: Wei Wang
Sunday, January 28, 2:00 PM
- Pandora: Jennifer Stahl
- Prometheus: Isaac Hernández
- Epimetheus: Parker Garrison
- Hope: Wei Wang
Tuesday, January 30, 7:30 PM
- Pandora: Jennifer Stahl
- Prometheus: Isaac Hernández
- Epimetheus: Parker Garrison
- Hope: Wei Wang
Wednesday, January 31, 7:30 PM
- Pandora: Nikisha Fogo
- Prometheus: Joseph Walsh
- Epimetheus: Esteban Hernández
- Hope: Wei Wang
Thursday, February 1, 7:30 PM
- Pandora: Jennifer Stahl
- Prometheus: Isaac Hernández
- Epimetheus: Parker Garrison
- Hope: Wei Wang
-
SFB has announced that YY will also dance in Marguerite & Armand in the Saturday 2/10 evening performance:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2XyQA2MmEK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
FB: Facebook
-
I’m not sure if this was posted anywhere, but found out via the following IG post that former Principal Dancer Tiit Helimets is now Director of the Men’s Program & Instructor at Bayer Ballet Academy in Mountain View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2DVOE_PYLr/?igsh=ZDE1MWVjZGVmZQ==
-
Casting has been posted - CASTING - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org):
Wednesday, January 24, 8:00 PMSAN FRANCISCO BALLET
TAMARA ROJO, Artistic Director
Martin West, Conductor
Osterweis Capital Management, Presenting Sponsor
Pas de Deux from SWAN LAKE, Act III
Sasha De Sola, Isaac Hernández
"La Llorona" from BROKEN WINGS
Isabella DeVivo, John-Paul Simoens*
Pas de Deux from MARGUERITE AND ARMAND
Misa Kuranaga, Joseph Walsh
TCHAIKOVSKY PAS DE DEUX
Wona Park, Aaron Robison
Pas de Deux from 7 FOR EIGHT
Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets*
DIANA AND ACTEON PAS DE DEUX
Nikisha Fogo, Wei Wang
Pas de Deux from HURRY UP, WE'RE DREAMING
Katherine Barkman, Esteban Hernández
Excerpt from A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Act II
Frances Chung, Angelo Greco
Jennifer Stahl, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira
Norika Matsuyama, Sean Bennett
Jasmine Jimison, Steven Morse
*Guest Artists
-
A press release about the first program of the 2024 Rep Season - Mere Mortals: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ANNOUNCES NEW CASTING AND CREATIVE DETAILS FOR WORLD PREMIERE BALLET REIMAGINING PANDORA’S BOX TO EXPLORE ETHICS OF AI - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org)
-
-
SFB posted this clip of Marguerite & Armand rehearsal:
-
I received an email from SFB which has announced Yuan Yuan Tan's Final Performances:
-
Wednesday, January 24: Opening Night Gala: Pas de Deux from Tomasson's 7 for Eight with Tiit Helimets
-
Wednesday, February 14: Marguerite in Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand, part of our British Icons program
I already have a ticket for Marguerite and Armand. I will most likely attend the gala performance if they will be selling standing ticket.
I will post any additional updates as I find them.
-
A Midsummer Night's Dream - March 12-23
in San Francisco Ballet
Posted
In 2020, the company used the sets & costumes from Pacific Northwest Ballet. For this season’s performances, the sets & costumes are from Paris Opera Ballet, designed by Christian Lacroix.