lmspear Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The DVD of the video Bart posted above has a delightful commentary track by Franklin. Link to comment
FauxPas Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I see there is also initial casting up for Gaite Parisienne--the two casts are Part/Stearns and Seo/Gomes. I'm not at all familiar with the ballet, but perhaps others can deduce which roles they will be dancing. Always exciting to see Part take up a new role! The role that Part would likely dance is the Glove Seller which Alexandra Danilova created and Susan Jaffe performed when it was revived by ABT over two decades ago. I missed a later performance with Alessandra Ferri and Julio Bocca (I think as the Peruvian). The other female roles - the Flower Seller and Can-Can Dancer - are pretty minor and can be performed by soloist or corps dancers. I guess that Stearns would be in Freddy Franklin's old role as the Baron and so would Gomes (though he might be inspired casting in the goofy comedy role of the Peruvian). The Peruvian was created by Massine for himself and is done by a shorter demi-caractere dancer. BTW: all the of secondary roles and corps choreography basically are musical comedy and can-can dancing. You really don't need a large classically trained corps to do this work - four classical dancers in technically undemanding roles and musical theater dancers for the rest. Typical of the early days of American ballet when large dance academies didn't really exist and classically trained dancers - especially men - were scarce. Many ballet men started in other areas of dance and got trained in ballet as teens or adults - i.e. Freddy Franklin and others. Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I just noticed that the three big remaining TBD performances (the 5/28 Bayadere and the 6/12 and 6/14 Cinderella performances) are all unavailable on the 1829 Club subscription for young balletgoers. They generally black out dates that are anticipated to be big sells, so I wonder if ABT is still banking on a guest star for those performances. It would now seem unlikely that they are holding those performances for more junior members of the company to learn the roles. Also, none of the dates would seem to make sense for a yet-to-be-announced retirement performance (if one is coming.) Link to comment
Waelsung Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Would anyone know when exactly the individual tickets to the 2014 Met Season will go on sale for the non-subscribers? Thanks in advance! Link to comment
fondoffouettes Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Would anyone when exactly the individual tickets to the 2014 Met Season will go on sale for the non-subscribers? Thanks in advance! Just to follow up on that question -- I'm also wondering if anyone can speak to the advantages of doing a Trio subscription versus waiting for single ticket sales. I really like being able to pick out my actual seat, but I realize those tickets can't be exchanged. Have people had good experiences with seats provided in the Trio subscriptions? Link to comment
RUKen Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Regarding the Trio subscriptions, I'm typically in the balcony, so I'm not sure if my comments below are applicable for the lower rings or the orchestra section: If you want to go to at least three of the performances with popular principals in the lead roles, then you are likely to get much better seats in the Trio subscription than if you wait until individual seats become available. Occasionally, though, tickets for good seats get returned (or exchanged), so if you are able to check availability every day you might score front-row seats in the section of your choice. Also, if your preference is to attend Wednesday matinees, when soloists are commonly cast in the lead roles, or if you are not particular about casting and flexible about dates, then you will probably find some good seats available later this spring. Link to comment
mussel Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 I just noticed that the three big remaining TBD performances (the 5/28 Bayadere and the 6/12 and 6/14 Cinderella performances) are all unavailable on the 1829 Club subscription for young balletgoers. They generally black out dates that are anticipated to be big sells, so I wonder if ABT is still banking on a guest star for those performances. It would now seem unlikely that they are holding those performances for more junior members of the company to learn the roles. Also, none of the dates would seem to make sense for a yet-to-be-announced retirement performance (if one is coming.) Your hunch could be correct. I haven't heard anything on the 6/12 & 6/14 Cinderella TBA castings yet, if you don't mind taking a little risk, I'd suggest you to go ahead to buy the 5/28 Bayadere. Link to comment
Plisskin Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Unless I'm looking at the casting wrong, there's not as many Guest Artist's this Met season? Only Kotchekova, Matvienko, and Cojocaru; the former whom only has 1 performance so far. Maybe McKenzie is deciding after those scathing exiting interviews from Messmer/ Dvorovenko about the low company morale due to too many gust artists, and the recent exits from long time corps members, to give more opportunities for ABT dancers? No complaints from me if so. Link to comment
abatt Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 There are a lot of performers at ABT who are not technically "guest artists", but in reality are just that. As examples, I would list Vishneva, Hallberg, Bolle and Vasiliev. While some of these people have a long history with ABT, the reality is that their appearances are minimal. Hallberg's numero uno devotion is now to the Bolshoi. Link to comment
Plisskin Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 There are a lot of performers at ABT who are not technically "guest artists", but in reality are just that. As examples, I would list Vishneva, Hallberg, Bolle and Vasiliev. While some of these people have a long history with ABT, the reality is that their appearances are minimal. Hallberg's numero uno devotion is now to the Bolshoi. Ah, that is true. I don't know why I didn't think of that and got my hopes up, lol. Although I don't really care for her, they atleast have given Boylston a good amount of Met performances. Link to comment
Barbara Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 It makes me sad to think of Hallberg as a de facto guest artist at ABT. Although I understand his hunger to challenge himself artistically I miss the opportunity of seeing him as often as before he joined the Bolshoi. The coming years will be interesting to follow. Link to comment
ord7916 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 On the matter of subscriptions, two questions: If I buy a make your own subscription, do I get to choose actual seats? On the website, there doesn't seem to be an option for that, only to choose which section. And, can I exchange a ticket for any performance? So if I wanted to change a Weds night Swan Lake to a Monday Manon, can I do that, or does it have to be for the same ballet? Link to comment
Lcg Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 For ABT you cannot choose exact seats for any type of subscription. If you are a subscriber you can exchange for almost any performance ( not opening night and not a gala if there is another). Day of week or performance does not matter, but you will have to pay any additional cost or contribute any refundable amount. Link to comment
ord7916 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Thanks for the info. So even if exchanging seats for another performance, choosing an exact seat is not an option? Link to comment
abatt Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 You can only choose your own seat on exchange if you go in person to the box office to do the exchange. Link to comment
California Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Some time ago, somebody asked when single tickets go on sale. I couldn't find an answer anywhere on the ABT or Met sites -- but I just got an e-mail from ABT with a last-minute plea to order a subscription: ". . . for best available seats before individual tickets go on sale to the general public on March 30. " So, I guess that's it! Link to comment
mussel Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 I believe the dynamic pricing takes effect on 4/7, so you only have a week to procrastinate. Link to comment
abatt Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 My understanding is that subscriber exchange week begins on March 23. Does anyone know for sure? I have not received my subscription tickets yet. Link to comment
Lcg Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Tickets arrived today. Subscriber exchanges March 23 to 29. Then resume April 7. Link to comment
abatt Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Hopefully they will fill in the TBA slots on or before March 23. Link to comment
abatt Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/12/bolshoi-soloist-to-debut-as-guest-artist-with-ballet-theater/?ref=arts Olga Smirnova, Victoria Tereshkina and Vladamir Shkylarov are guesting with ABT! Link to comment
Helene Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Also, Amy Watson of Royal Danish Ballet. Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I wonder if Smirnova and Tereshkina will perform La Bayadere together on the same night? On ABT's website, the evening performance of May 28 is still showing TBA for the entire principal cast. May 26 shows TBA for Gamzatti. Link to comment
Barbara Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Fingers crossed the tba slots will be filled before the March 23rd beginning of exchange week! Link to comment
abatt Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I suspect that the calendar will be updated regardng this info by the end of the week. Very exciting news. Link to comment
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