ABT Fall 2015 season

[Helene]

ABT dancers might be more like their Ballets Russes predecessors than NYCB dancers who grew up with the evolution and eventual (tragic, IMO) truncation of the ballet.

The first American Apollo, Lew Christensen, with his brother among the most important influencers in the development of American ballet, came from vaudeville.

[brokenwing]

The 'Valse-Fantaisie' ABT is performing is Balancgine's rarely seen, first crack at choreographing to that music, the 1953 version from the larger 'Glinkiana'. Miami Cuty Ballet last performed the work in 2010, and maybe Farrell Ballet has done it as well, but NYCB only does the later version. This one features 4 principals and no corps de ballet.

[mimsyb]

The 'Valse-Fantaisie' ABT is performing is Balancgine's rarely seen, first crack at choreographing to that music, the 1953 version from the larger 'Glinkiana'. Miami Cuty Ballet last performed the work in 2010, and maybe Farrell Ballet has done it as well, but NYCB only does the later version. This one features 4 principals and no corps de ballet.

Thanks for that info. I agree that Isabella would be fantastic in this. Also, as I mentioned up thread, Skylar. And I'm also happy whenever Balanchine is performed at ABT.

[Golden Idol]

Now that the Met season is over, will we be getting a new edition of that wonderful post--Is it by Abatt? or someone else? My little gray cells fail me--that takes the measure of all the guest artists from the season now ended. It's the line-up that reads something like "Please come back" or "We love you but do not re-hire." (The latter I recall being in reference to Andy Veyette.) I would enjoy its return to Ballet Alert.

[bingham]

Now that the Met season is over, will we be getting a new edition of that wonderful post--Is it by Abatt? or someone else? My little gray cells fail me--that takes the measure of all the guest artists from the season now ended. It's the line-up that reads something like "Please come back" or "We love you but do not re-hire." (The latter I recall being in reference to Andy Veyette.) I would enjoy its return to Ballet Alert.

Marianela Nunez, absolutely in the PCB group.

[Golden Idol]

Marianela Nunez, absolutely in the PCB group.

Absolutely. (Though I didn't see her with ABT; I saw her in the Royal's Don Q and mixed bill.) And yes, PCB Steven McRae!

[nysusan]

So I guess Company B was created for Houston Ballet, not PTDC. Interesting that it was created for ballet trained dancers. I wonder if they danced it more like ABT or the Taylor dancers.

Company B may have been made for Houston Ballet, but Taylor always creates his work on his own company, his own dancers. And then he has someone go to the commissioning company & set it on them. So even though it was commissioned by a ballet company it was created on PTDC dancers, not ballet dancers.

[FauxPas]

Now that the Met season is over, will we be getting a new edition of that wonderful post--Is it by Abatt? or someone else? My little gray cells fail me--that takes the measure of all the guest artists from the season now ended. It's the line-up that reads something like "Please come back" or "We love you but do not re-hire." (The latter I recall being in reference to Andy Veyette.) I would enjoy its return to Ballet Alert.

I have absolutely no idea what you are referring to here....

http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/34070-abts-male-principal-problem/?p=339679

[abatt]

I would be thrilled to see Kimin Kim, V. Shkylarov, Obratsova and Sarafanov again, in addition to Nunez. Osipova is always a welcome addition, but who knows if she'll be back at the Met. It was the guest artists who provided some of the most artistically rewarding performances of the season, in my opinion. From the home team, my favorite performances were Murphy's Hagar and Cinderella, Stella's Giselle, Vishneva-Gomes Giselle and all the Sleeping Beauty performances.

Kochetkova never makes much of an impression on me, and now we get her full time.

[Golden Idol]

Thank you, Faux Pas. Now, may we have a welcome repeat of last year's memo? (As I said I couldn't remember whose post that was...)

[choriamb]

Agreed with Kathleen, fondoffouettes, and Helene. ABT's dancers bring something special to early Balanchine works in particular, probably because their diet of ballets is closer to that of the dancers who originated the roles.

[DeCoster]

Regarding Balanchine, I always did find it a treat to see ABT dance Apollo, especially since they do the version that includes the prologue. ABT's dancers really brought a lot to those roles, even if they aren't Balanchine specialists.

I also have very fond memories of Hallberg and Abrera dancing Robbins' Afternoon of a Faun. I would be happy to see them do the piece again.

yes!

The 'Valse-Fantaisie' ABT is performing is Balancgine's rarely seen, first crack at choreographing to that music, the 1953 version from the larger 'Glinkiana'. Miami Cuty Ballet last performed the work in 2010, and maybe Farrell Ballet has done it as well, but NYCB only does the later version. This one features 4 principals and no corps de ballet.

Thank you so much for this information. It's interesting to me how Balanchine would make different works to the same music or would revise ballets (changing costumes or other details) over his career. I wonder if other choreographers do this.

Is this the version?

[Helene]

There are times when Balanchine came into the studio, and no one remembered enough of the original, and he'd make a new ballet. He would have been working on the music ahead of time, including making a piano transcription if he hadn't already.

He sliced and diced Glinka and Glazunov more than once and re-choreographed "Mozartiana" and Mozart's Divertimento No. 15. ("Caracole" was the first version.) He expanded "Serenade" by one movement and "Theme and Variations" by three in "Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3." "Palais de Cristal" to "Symphony in C" was a major overhaul of detail within the same structure. "Ballet Imperial" to "Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2" is a change in feel from tutus to tunics. I've never had a chance to see them close enough together to know how much the choreography changed (or didn't).

Watching the Tchaikovsky Competition, in which only one of the pianists, co-silver medalist Lucas Geniusas, opted for the Second -- actual or planned -- I wonder how many people expect(ed) to hear the "Van Cliburn music" and whether that was the reason they briefly dropped "Tchaikovsky" from the title.

[sandik]

There are times when Balanchine came into the studio, and no one remembered enough of the original, and he'd make a new ballet. ...

He sliced and diced Glinka and Glazunov more than once and re-choreographed "Mozartiana" and Mozart's Divertimento No. 15. ("Caracole" was the first version.) He expanded "Serenade" by one movement and "Theme and Variations" by three in "Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3." "Palais de Cristal" to "Symphony in C" was a major overhaul of detail within the same structure. "Ballet Imperial" to "Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2" is a change in feel from tutus to tunics. I've never had a chance to see them close enough together to know how much the choreography changed (or didn't).

Makes me think these should be featured on the home improvement channel -- "Ballet Remodels"

[vipa]

yes!

Thank you so much for this information. It's interesting to me how Balanchine would make different works to the same music or would revise ballets (changing costumes or other details) over his career. I wonder if other choreographers do this.

Is this the version?

I believe this is the 1967 version that NYCB still does. One principal couple and 4 corps women. Is there reason to believe that ABT is doing the older version?

[Helene]

Which dancers would you look forward to seeing in the newly announced rep?

[fondoffouettes]

Which dancers would you look forward to seeing in the newly announced rep?

I only really know Spectre well, so, in addition to seeing Cornejo in the role again, I'd like to see either Gorak or Whiteside dance it. I know the role seems tailor-made for a jumping bean like Simkin, but I can't really imagine him bringing the androgynous sensuality the role requires. I think he'd look more like a cute little garden sprite. Abera and Lane would seem like good options for the female role.

[Helene]

There's limited partnering in "Spectre." I wonder if they can cast tall for the woman.

[mussel]

Which dancers would you look forward to seeing in the newly announced rep?

I hope Veronika will get M2.

[sandik]

There's limited partnering in "Spectre." I wonder if they can cast tall for the woman.

I don't know that they would, but they certainly could.

[lmspear]

I won't be in NY for this season, but here are my thoughts:

I've been craving the chance to see Monotones live for years. It's been waaaaaay too long.

The Mariinsky toured with Spectre just a few years ago. I saw it a couple of times and I have no desire to see it again in the near future. I want to see something that features more dancers.

If ABT has to dance Balanchine, I wish they would do pieces that are not concurrently danced by NYCB, except for T&V. (Coals to Newcastle, local audiences have no incentive to see something they just saw or will shortly see.) It's not the quality at ABT that I object to for their Balanchine choices, it's the lack of exclusivity in what they dance. I'd rather see them do a rarity than another Allegro Brilliant or Tchai. PDD.

[Helene]

The two Balanchine ballets that I've seen ABT do that NYCB doesn't have in its rotation are "Bouree Fantasque" and "Symphonie Concertante." I could imagine them doing a notable "La Sonnambula."

[sandik]

I imagine that the Balanchine trust has a great deal of say over what and when ABT performs work from that rep. Does anyone here have public knowledge of what their current contractual relationship is? I would imagine that, since it was made on ABT, T&V is fair game whenever, but what about the rest?

And yes, I think they'd be a natural choice for Sonnambula. Or Prodigal.

[GeorgeB fan]

The two Balanchine ballets that I've seen ABT do that NYCB doesn't have in its rotation are "Bouree Fantasque" and "Symphonie Concertante." I could imagine them doing a notable "La Sonnambula."

ABT performed La Sonnambula back in the 80's. It was filmed with Baryshnikov as the Poet and Alessandra Ferri as the Sleepwalker.

[Drew]

ABT performed La Sonnambula back in the 80's. It was filmed with Baryshnikov as the Poet and Alessandra Ferri as the Sleepwalker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKXNgqPSEi0

When I saw it with ABT, I found Kirkland quite extraordinary as the Sleepwalker...