abatt

Does anyone know if the new website will have a Select Your Own Seats option, showing all available seats in each section and allowing a ticket purchaser to select particular seats (the way City Center, the Met Opera and Ticketmaster do)?

The new website does look great. I feel so sorry about Morgan. I hope she is able to continue her ballet career somewhere else in the future. She was wonderful. Adam Hendrickson retired, as noted on a previous thread. I'm surprised about Callie Bachman. Didn't Martins create R&J on her when she was at SAB? She had a lot of promise, but once she got into the company her career seemed to fizzle out.

Kathryn Morgan is no longer listed as a company member on the new site. If this is true, it is tragic. I didn't check for other missing names.

During one of the intermission segments of the Bolshoi's broadcast of Raymonda this spring, the presenter (Ms. Novikova, I believe) was talking about the fact that the Pharoah's Daughter would be an upcoming broadcast in the fall of 2012. She mentioned that the Bolshoi is the only ballet company that performs this work.

I had the privilege of seeing Domingo do Otello live during the mid 1990s and early 2000s at the Met. I don't recall him using black face. He used makeup that made his skin look darker, but he was not in black face. I have no idea whether he used black face when he first started singing the role (in the 1970s?)

He says Osipova and Vasiliev quit the Bolshoi because of Hallberg? Give me a break. They were both eager to sign up again with ABT, where Hallberg is a star. Osipova has enough power at ABT to reject a partner she doesn't like, yet she chose to dance w. Hallberg this season in Giselle and R&J.

When I watched the clip posted above, I was shocked by the painted kids. There is no way that would ever occur in this day and age in the U.S. Not a chance. I'm wondering whether the Bolshoi will make adjustments when this ballet is broadcast world wide as part of the Emerging Pictures - Ballet In Cinema program this fall. I certainly hope so. I recall seeing the Bolshoi doing this ballet at the Met Opera around 2003 or 2004 when they visited New York. Does anyone recall whether they used the painted kids during their Met appearance. I don't remember seeing the painted kids, but it's been a long time and memory fades.

That's why I never divulge how frequently I go to the ballet except to very few individuals who share my passion. That's what makes reading and particpating in these conversations on Ballet Alert so wonderful.

It seems like they are choosing works based on whether a full orchestra is needed. Polyphonia only requires the strings, I believe. The other works only require pianists and violinists. Herman Schmerman uses recorded music.

David is withdrawing from a peformance at Jacobs Pillow in August due to his injury. See link below http://artsbeat.blog...mance/?ref=arts

Yes, I meant 2013. Thanks. I corrected my typo. Yes, it is the Maillot R&J, according to the above link. The R&J is a separate program from the All Balanchine. They are doing the R&J in its entirety.

PNB will return to New York in Feb. 2013 (See link below) http://www.thefaster...rthwest-ballet/ They are bringing an All Balanchine program (Concerto B., Agon, Apollo) and Romeo and Juliet. Overall, the dance offerings are pretty sparse. I was hoping for a New York visit from San Fran. ballet, since they will be in the Northeast (D.C.).

FYI, they will charge you the facility fee per ticket even if you buy at the box office. However, you will not incur the service and handling fees at the box office.

At these prices I will need to know casting before I plunk down money for tickets.

What a clever career transition. Best of luck.

I just checked out ticket availability for the Pina performance as a matter of curiosity. They have released some orchestra tickets for Sunday for $250. As I recall, the highest priced orchestra tickets were $150 when the tickets were first put on sale, but I guess they decided to dynamically raise the price. Greed is alive and well at Lincoln Center.

I know zero about Lifar's politics. I think the inclusion of the Lifar ballet was meant to show off Parisian classical style in a tutu ballet, in contrast to the other two ballets on the mixed bill (a dance drama, and an erotic romp).

Pina starts on Fri, Jul 20. I'll be there.

LOL re Mrs. Kissinger. Plastic surgery can do wonders. One of the pictures is of Helene Alexopolous. I thought I saw her in the theater, but it has been so many years since she retired that I just was not sure. She still looks great.

Kajiya and Simkin had their debut in DonQ at ABT together during the last run of DonQs at the Met. I saw their performance. Simkin did an excellent job. I thought Kajiya was was in over her head at times, especially in terms of technique. (I think Simkin has done DonQ numerous times at other companies. In fact, I think there may be a DVD out there of him as Basilio.) I don't think Gomes has previously done the role of Basilio in its entirety at the Met. He danced one act at the Alonso gala, but has he previously danced the entire role? He was a great Espada. I guess he won't be doing that role anymore.

City Center will be open for business on July 23. During that entire week (through July 28) City Center is presenting Uncle Vanya as part of Lincoln Center Festival. The fact that the box office will in fact be open, but they will not sell ABT tickets, is maddening. It's a ploy by City Center to make money from telephone and internet handling fees from people who want to buy tickets before Sept. 4.

Cornejo has not performed with Barcelona Ballet for some time (since his split with Carmen?). Corella wouldn't have any non compete clause to enforce, because I doubt he has any recent/current contracts with any ABT dancers. Non compete clauses always have very specific limitations on the time period during which they are to be in effect; otherwise they are unenforceable. Even if Corella had such a clause in a prior contract w. Cornejo from years ago, it would not be enforceable now. I do feel sorry for the fact that Barcelona Ballet has competition in its home base from ABT, but that's life ...

I just noticed on the ABT calendar that the company will perform in Barcelona in late October. They are doing Don Q. Here is the link to the calendar. http://www.abt.org/c...tdate=10/1/2012 Notably, Boylston is debuting as Kitri. The lady is well on her way. I think she would be very good in that role. True to her word (and her contract) Semionova will appear on the Barcelona tour. Also, the lucky Spaniards will see Osipova and Vasiliev together in this ballet. Please, please let us see them together at the Met next season in this.

I saw tons of empty seats at Bright Stream. Also, the attendance varied greatly depending on the cast. The attendance at the Herrera/Gomes Romeo & Juliet was poor, but the Vishneva/Gomes R&J was packed.

I'm not sure how to interpret the statement that it was their best box office year. They raised prices, and dynamic ticket pricing was applicable to a lot of performances. Based on these factors, they were making more money per ticket sold than in any prior year, but was attendance up too? I'm happy they are making money,and I enjoy seeing all these guest artists. I'm just trying to understand the mathematics, facts and figures on this.