abatt

Vishneva learned the role of Aurora for the ABT production and performed it exactly once during the initial run of this current production. (She called in sick for performance number two of that run.) She has never done it at ABT since (though I did see her do SB with the Mariinsky in DC 2 or 3 years ago). I would not expect to see her Aurora at ABT again.

Paul Taylor is returning to the Koch - March 5-24, 2013

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/09/paul-taylor-dance-company-returning-to-lincoln-center/?ref=arts

My most vivid memory of Hammoudi's scary partnering was when he nearly dropped Simone Messmer during Lady of the Camelias. The guy needs A LOT of improvement.

Actually, the smart thing for ABT to do, in terms of making money, is to schedule Osipova w. an ABT regular partner, and schedule Vasiliev with a different partner. That way people have to go to two performances to see them. That's what they did with Coppelia last season. They cast Vasiliev w. Reyes, and Osipova w. Simkin.

Do we have any info re guest artists. Are Osipova and Vasiliev coming back? Cojocaru? Muntagirov? I've never seen Month in The Country, so I'm happy about that addition to the rep.

By the way, the lead NY Times critic is presently in London and in today's paper reviews a Royal Ballet mixed bill which included A Month in the Country. He loved Cojocaru in that ballet. I'm sure it is in the Links section.

Thanks to mussel!

Am I correct that Amanda McKerrow and John Gardener came on stage to give him flowers? Also, did you check out those Chrisitan Loboutin shoes that Irina was wearing! Who was the guy who came out right before Saviliev. Who was the guy w. the cap.

Tonight it was battle of the all star short dancers. Cornejo is my favorite Conrad at ABT since Bocca quit. Sky high jumps, wonderful lines. He also partnered Reyes very well, lifting her high and with complete security in the big overhead lifts. Vasiliev was again great as Ali. The Act II pas de trois was like a little competition between Cornejo and Vasiliev. Simkin, not to be outdone, also turned in a stellar performance as Lankedam. However, he was merely adequate as a partner to Lane. Saviliev was a much stronger partner for her. Simkin did three or four of those deep knee bends on his landings in his solo that Malhakov used to do.) Reyes was a bit off her game in Act I. She was not in control during her fouettes. She was excellent in Act II. However, in the final act her Italian fouettes were traveling all over the place.

I wasn't judging Kobborg in comparison to either Osipova or Vasiliev. I was judging him based on other dancers who perform Conrad at ABT. I had seen him at Kings of Dance several years ago and I thought very hightly of his performance then. I acknowledge that he is a strong partner.

Even though I think that both Seo and Hammoudi need significant improvement, this should improve morale within the ABT ranks, especially the corps., Both of them came up through the ABT corps and are not hired guns from other ballet companies. Of course, these promotions are no consolation to people who felt they should have been promoted instead of these two dancers.

Osipova's ronde de piques were the fastest I have EVER seen. . I don't know the technical name for what she was doing with the fouettes, but it was astounding. She even used the normally dead moments of the ballet to impress us, like when the hooded goons block her from running away after Conrad has been knocked out by the funky flower. She spun like a top at the end of that scene, while most ballerinas merely run around or do one or two spins. Vasiliev was definitely super-charged by being on the stage with his finacee. Let's hope for Don Q next season so we can see these two blow the roof off the Met.

Kobberg is disappointing. I know he's a big star at the Royal, but so far I haven't been able to figure out why. He is a strong partner, though. I guess he is no youngster, so he may have been much more impressive in prior years.

Wow. Good for Ms. Jaffe. It's a loss to ABT, though, since she apparently is coaching a number of the soloists.

My hands still hurt from clapping so hard during tonight's performance. Spectacular. Vasilev was even more electrifying than on Wed. Osipova was perfection - a pure delight in every way. Every spin was phenomenal. Every jump was sky high. Tonight was the best I've ever seen Yuriko dance (as Gulnare). Jared was very good, although he doesn't have the phenomenal technique of some of the other men who performed the role earlier this week. Kobborg was an excellent partner, but his solos were underpowered. The house looked very well sold.

I had forgotten that Wiles did Medora. Since I generally avoided her performances, I don't have much recollection of what she performed.

Although this was Veronika's ABT debut as Medora, she did the role when she was a soloist at the Kirov. She has had to wait all these years to get the role at ABT. Apparently, Kent has vacated the role due to its vast technical demands, so ABT needed a new Medora. I'm glad Part finally got the role, which she deserves.

Xiomara has also moved up from Gulnare to Medora this season. Simkin got his debut as Ali because Angel retired.

I suppose this is an example of how dancers in the company, including principal dancers, are shut out of new roles until someone more senior steps aside.

Vasiliev was also a flawless partner for Part, one of the tallest women in the company. That's more than I can say for Cory Stearns, who looked like he was straining to lift her.

I've never seen a circus acrobat who can do what Vasiliev does. He does not have a beautiful classical line, but in the role of Ali that's not a significant issue. It's a problem if you are playing a prince. Vasiliev was thrilling. He gives 110 percent and the audience loved it. We are lucky to have him dancing at the Met. I, too, enjoyed this afternoon's performance.

The programs have been posted on the ABT website, linked below

http://www.abt.org/calendar.aspx?startdate=10/1/2012

I was pleasantly surprised how good Ethan looked. I too thought he looked better than he has in years. He is trim, slim and fit. Everyone was excellent last night.

I enjoyed the Kent/Gomes performance on Sat night for the most part, but Kent is making numerous alterations to the choreography in order to suit her present, diminished level of technical ability in order to get through the ballet.

_{I just read in the NY Times that Alec Baldwin donated $1M to the NY Philharmonic. He is on the Board of Directors there. Too bad Alec doesn't like ballet more.}

These ballets are presenting Western stereotypes regarding other races and nationalities.

I think La Bayadere is pretty offensive to Indians, but that has not stopped it from being presented.

It is danceable, but it is not considered a sophisiticated musical composition.

The score for Giselle is never played by orchestras apart from ballet orchestras because the score is so weak and insignificant. The score is considered unworthy by professional musicians.

I think the plot of Raymonda is very offensive to Muslims, and that is why ABT has not done it in such a long time. The libretto would definitely need some heavy editing/re-writes.