abatt Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 (edited) Per the ABT website, Ahn replaces Stearns in Swan Lake. Added - So now we wait to find out who will replace Stearns in R&J with Hee Seo. My guess is Camargo. If that turns out to be the case I might buy a ticket. Edited June 21, 2022 by abatt Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Yikes. And, not surprisingly that means Ahn has been replaced as Purple von Rothbart, by Sebastian and Curley. It's not looking good that Stearns will be able to dance this season. Are they giving Ahn a crash course in Romeo so he can cover that too? They have no other choice really. Link to comment
abatt Posted June 21, 2022 Author Share Posted June 21, 2022 I think they will just use one of the other Romeo's to fill in for Stearns. The likely candidates are Camargo and Royal. Each has only one Romeo assignment right now. However, since Camargo is a more experienced dancer, I'm guessing Camargo will get the assignment. As for Curley as Rothbart, based on his excellent performance in Love and Rage, I think he has the potential to be a fine Rothbart. Link to comment
nanushka Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 (edited) Forster also has only one — though the day before one of Stearns'. But Forster, Royal and Camargo should certainly be able to cover Stearns' two, unless they want to prepare Ahn for other reasons. Edited June 21, 2022 by nanushka Link to comment
abatt Posted June 21, 2022 Author Share Posted June 21, 2022 (edited) Given Forster's age, I'm not sure that he's a likely candidate for additional, unscheduled assignments. Edited June 21, 2022 by abatt Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Frankly they should be preparing Ahn anyway. What if someone else gets injured or sick? Forster isn’t any older than Whiteside or Stearns, he’s about 35/36. Is Camargo tall enough to partner Seo? Link to comment
nanushka Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 (edited) I think 37 or 38. (Wikipedia cites birth year of 1983 or 84, but I think 84 or 85 actually.) Edited June 21, 2022 by nanushka Link to comment
nanushka Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 14 minutes ago, nanushka said: I think 37 or 38. (Wikipedia cites birth year of 1983 or 84, but I think 84 or 85 actually.) Actually nope, looks like 36 was correct. Article from September 2020 giving age as 34 is the one linked on his Wiki page. (Always check the sourcing!) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/10/arts/dance/american-ballet-theater-promotions-pandemic.html Link to comment
bingham Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Maybe, it’s time to give a chance to one of the talented corps men like R Klein or P Frenette. I don’t know if ABT do it but they should always have someone understudy the main roles. Link to comment
MoMo Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 I agree about having Patrick Frenette and Jonathan Klein being ready to perform Romeo just in case. Both are scheduled for R and J already. Patrick as Benvolio and Jonathan as Mercutio. It would give the Company more depth. Link to comment
nanushka Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 (edited) Unfortunately I don't think that's how ABT tends to do things, at least under McKenzie. (Maybe next year?) I remember too many Met seasons in which certain dancers have been worn ragged filling in for sick or injured colleagues. I'd love to see Frenette, Klein and others given more opportunities to step into lead roles. Edited June 21, 2022 by nanushka Link to comment
AB'sMom Posted June 22, 2022 Share Posted June 22, 2022 I think Camargo is at least 6’ tall. He’s significantly taller than Simkin. Link to comment
Becki Lee Posted June 22, 2022 Share Posted June 22, 2022 I think it’s a bummer that Carlos Gonzalez is injured too, because I think he could step up in to a lot of these roles with Frenette and Klein. Tyler Maloney probably as well. Link to comment
choriamb Posted June 22, 2022 Share Posted June 22, 2022 Really, there are a lot of new guys who are on the cusp. When I saw him in Giselle last fall, Andrei Ishchuk looked like he'd been doing Hilarion for years: I hope he's in the mix for a Siegfried backup. Frenette had less firepower and projection, but was really dramatically engaged: I'd totally be curious to see what he could do with Romeo. And I've heard such good reports on Klein and Camargo that I'm curious to see them in anything. (I'd also be game for Gorak: he's solid when he has an experienced partner.) Link to comment
ABT Fan Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 Interesting casting update on the Met Opera's site: it says that Jose Sebastian is doing Siegfried June 27 and July 1 (ABT's site says that is Ahn). I think the Met Opera just mixed the two up, but their casting sheet is usually the one that's correct, not ABT's. https://www.metopera.org/season/2022-abt/swan-lake/ Link to comment
NinaFan Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 43 minutes ago, ABT Fan said: Interesting casting update on the Met Opera's site: it says that Jose Sebastian is doing Siegfried June 27 and July 1 (ABT's site says that is Ahn). I think the Met Opera just mixed the two up, but their casting sheet is usually the one that's correct, not ABT's. https://www.metopera.org/season/2022-abt/swan-lake/ It's obviously an error. Once in a while ABT or the MET transposes the roles on the casting sheets. Link to comment
Buddy Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 Devon Teuscher's White Swan Duet tonight (with Joo Won Ahn) was one of the most beautiful and possibly The Most Heartfeltly Committed that I've ever seen ! Absolutely Wonderful ! Link to comment
DPell Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 9 hours ago, Buddy said: Devon Teuscher's White Swan Duet tonight (with Joo Won Ahn) was one of the most beautiful and possibly The Most Heartfeltly Committed that I've ever seen ! Absolutely Wonderful ! How was Ahn? I have a ticket to see him and Cate Hurlin next week. Link to comment
Buddy Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, DPell said: How was Ahn? I have a ticket to see him and Cate Hurlin next week. To be honest, DPell, my eyes were glued to Devon Teuscher during all their time together and....and way, way beyond ! I tried to keep her Remarkable Odette Duet(!) alive in my mind as much as possible for the entire evening and forever if possible. Joo Won Ahn seemed just fine, DPell. From what I can recall he was a very good partner and did some more fine work on his own, including gracefully impressive, airy jumps. Overall, I thought it was a very fine evening, especially considering that this was the first night performance and that this work, or much else!, probably hasn't been performed for about three years. The ABT Corps de Ballet of White Swans and its choreography are always a treat for me. I won't get into names right now because I've got a lot to do, but Rothbart the handsome, Act II Great Hall scene, Jose Sebastian, was very charismatic and exciting, recalling the heydays of Marcelo Gomes. There were many, very good performances with bits of of luminosity and personality everywhere. It's personality, infectious energy and impressive talent that make this production and much more that ABT does greatly pleasing to me and on the highest world class level. The Kevin McKenzie "Swan Lake" is A Keeper(!) as far as I'm concerned. It should remain a tribute to him and all that he and the company have accomplished in their thirty years together. Edited June 28, 2022 by Buddy Link to comment
abatt Posted June 28, 2022 Author Share Posted June 28, 2022 (edited) I have always liked Devon in SL. She keeps getting better in the role. Her long limbs are put to full use here in creating a gorgeous Odette, fully stretched lines and beautiful use of her arms, neck and back. She handled the ballroom scene allegro work with attack, knocking out multiple doubles in the fouette portion with very little traveling. Ahn's work was respectable, but never electrifying. He had no trouble with the partnering. His big solo in Act I was beautifully done. He has gorgeous lines and his legs are extremely long. However, his work in the ballroom scene tended to be a bit conservative. Hopefully he will gain confidence as the run continues. As might be anticipated, I felt there was no chemistry between the lead couple. I thought J. Sebastian did a great job as Purple Rothbart. He had a commanding presence, and he executed the choreography without difficulty. Benno was Hoven, who danced with Hurlin and Williams. Edited June 28, 2022 by abatt Link to comment
Buddy Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 30 minutes ago, abatt said: I have always liked Devon in SL. She keeps getting better in the role. Her long limbs are put to full use here in creating a gorgeous Odette, fully stretched lines and beautiful use of her arms, neck and back. Yes, absolutely, Abatt, and so much more ! Link to comment
abatt Posted June 28, 2022 Author Share Posted June 28, 2022 I guess the best word I can use to describe Devon in this is grandeur. She brings majesty to Odette. Link to comment
Buddy Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 (edited) 21 minutes ago, abatt said: I guess the best word I can use to describe Devon in this is grandeur. She brings majesty to Odette. "Grandeur," "majesty," poetry, heart-and-soul emotion, love, magnificent imagery, remarkable sculpture and coordination of her limbs and entire body....All Embracing. Edited June 28, 2022 by Buddy Link to comment
tutu Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 50 minutes ago, Buddy said: The Kevin McKenzie "Swan Lake" is A Keeper(!) as far as I'm concerned. I share your sentiment — I know the McKenzie Swan Lake is not everyone’s favorite, but I just adore it, swamp Rothbart and all. Link to comment
abatt Posted June 28, 2022 Author Share Posted June 28, 2022 (edited) The McKenzie version would be better if they restored Act IV. Right now it's mostly an opportunity to change the scenery while a few swans run around aimlessly in front of the curtain while the scenery is being changed. By the way, the stage hands need to be told to be quiet while they are doing the set change between Act III and Act IV. Last night, event though I was up in the balcony, I could hear them talking while they changed the scenery at this juncture. Edited June 28, 2022 by abatt Link to comment
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