ABT Romeo & Juliet: Met 2023

[choriamb]

I saw the Saturday matinee with Shevchenko/Forster.

Forster was dramatically subdued and a bit blurred technically during Act I. And, then, was more energetic and technically sharp than I've ever seen him during the final two acts the ballet. (I wonder if he's simply sorting out how to pace his energy.)

Shevchenko is always committed and technically pristine, but I missed the partner interaction that made her Giselle magical. (Her Juliet seemed presented to the audience a bit more than I prefer.) That said, she knows how and when to simply stand still and her crypt scene was uncluttered and effective. I look forward to revisiting her in the role.

Jose Sebastian's Paris was technically solid, but, frankly, David Hallberg is the only person whom I've ever found effective in the role. (His wide eyes and noble gravity were perfect for an aggrieved-but-restrained suitor.) I wish ABT would try a character specialist in the role.

Gonzalez's landings will probably be sharper in his next Mercutio, but his ballon, wit, and presentation are already there:  there was more real laughter from the audience at Mercutio than I've heard in a while.

Otherwise:  Lyle has quietly become their best Tybalt. Raffa is a jewel. Agoudine gives a good Friar Lawrence. Forsythe and McBride made their harlots more than background atmosphere. Lall and Coker always sparkle as brightly in the corps as in named parts.

And Gorak gave the sort of stylish, articulate, and relaxed performance that showed why he was promoted...the sort that you'd wish for every dancer's last performance. I'm sorry to see him go and, if he continues his career elsewhere, I will happily go see him:  he's a lovely artist who came to ABT at a uniquely difficult time, particularly for short-to-mid-height men. His Dancing Master in Gaîté Parisienne is my gold standard.

Edited July 23, 2023 by choriamb

[Pointe533]

I saw the matinee as well with Shevchenko/Forster. I agreed that Forster was a little lackluster in Act 1, but seemed to gain confidence through the rest of the ballet. His partnering looked very strong in general and especially in the balcony pas de deux. 
 

I thought Shevchenko was very good. Technically she was secure yet light on her feet. I thought she also did a good job dramatically, though I do wish she showed a little more passion towards Forster. Similar to another commenter, I felt it was more of a presentation to the audience rather than an intense connection between the pair. 
 

I see a ton of potential in Gonzalez as Mercutio, but his performance was unfortunately technically shaky which surprised me. He bobbled on several turns and just seemed a little nervous overall. But his wit and energy was spot on, and with more practice I believe he will be an excellent Mercutio. 
 

Joey Gorak did a good job as Benvolio, and I wish him well with his next chapter. I thought the 3 harlots were great and really played up the characters well. 
 

 

 

[California]

9 hours ago, choriamb said:

Forster was dramatically subdued and a bit blurred technically during Act I. And, then, was more energetic and technically sharp than I've ever seen him during the final two acts the ballet. (I wonder if he's simply sorting out how to pace his energy.)

I had the same reaction to Forster at the Saturday matinee. Very weak in Act I -- low arabesques and jumps, e.g. But I think you're right that he seems to have been figuring out stamina to get through the entire ballet, as he was much better in II and III.

Pardon this very trivial observation/question: I remember that they used to end with the dead bodies: he on the floor and she draped over. Curtain down. When the curtain went up they were in the same position. Curtain down. When curtain next went up, the pair were standing alone on stage. Now that second view of the bodies seems to have been eliminated. Perhaps it was too hard on the dancers. Perhaps it added too much time to the bows, which they seem determined to keep short now. But I do remember the second view as striking and miss it!

[ABT Fan]

28 minutes ago, California said:

Pardon this very trivial observation/question: I remember that they used to end with the dead bodies: he on the floor and she draped over. Curtain down. When the curtain went up they were in the same position. Curtain down. When curtain next went up, the pair were standing alone on stage. Now that second view of the bodies seems to have been eliminated. Perhaps it was too hard on the dancers. Perhaps it added too much time to the bows, which they seem determined to keep short now. But I do remember the second view as striking and miss it!

They did the second view of the bodies last night with Cornejo/Trenary. But, I don’t remember it being done last year with any of the casts I saw. Perhaps folks who went to other shows this year can say whether or not last night was the only night they did this. It actually surprised me because I haven’t seen it done in quite awhile. Maybe Cornejo asked for it. I have a feeling that was his last Romeo.

Edited July 23, 2023 by ABT Fan

[California]

On 7/21/2023 at 2:16 PM, ba11et0mane said:

The audience loved him and he seemed super in character, right before Mercutio’s death when Mercutio tries to convince romeo to take a sword against tybalt and romeo refuses, you could see Roxander mouthing “just take it / just take one” to Bell. small detail that i loved, he has left such a good impression on me this season and i hope he gets promoted soon! 

Since a lot of people are impressed with Roxander, let me just note that his brother Ashton Roxander was just promoted to principal dancer at Philadelphia Ballet. 

Or perhaps I should just say "relative." Both are from Medford, Oregon.

https://philadelphiaballet.org/dancers/ashton-roxander/

https://www.abt.org/people/jake-roxander/?type=performer

[aurora]

15 minutes ago, California said:

Since a lot of people are impressed with Roxander, let me just note that his brother Ashton Roxander was just promoted to principal dancer at Philadelphia Ballet. 

Or perhaps I should just say "relative." Both are from Medford, Oregon.

https://philadelphiaballet.org/dancers/ashton-roxander/

https://www.abt.org/people/jake-roxander/?type=performer

They are brothers. Jake Roxander has talked about him on his Instagram.

[ba11et0mane]

1 hour ago, aurora said:

They are brothers. Jake Roxander has talked about him on his Instagram.

Here is his instagram post congratulating his brother on his promotion 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsJl1Dug47b/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

[cargill]

On 7/22/2023 at 5:28 PM, ABT Fan said:

I just saw the story on their IG. Yep, he’s leaving.

I have to say that despite him not living up to the potential many of us hoped he had, his Bronze Idol was the best I’ve ever seen. Simply gorgeous.

He was such a special dancer. I first saw him as Lensky when he was very young, just so pure and elegant.  I also remember him as the Prince in Ashton's Cinderella.  Yes, he did have partnering issues (the final lift as I recall was eliminated) but he gave the ballroom scene such wistfullness, polite but isolated, and the radiance when he met Cinderella was so overwhelming.  

[California]

37 minutes ago, cargill said:

He was such a special dancer. I first saw him as Lensky when he was very young, just so pure and elegant.  I also remember him as the Prince in Ashton's Cinderella.  Yes, he did have partnering issues (the final lift as I recall was eliminated) but he gave the ballroom scene such wistfullness, polite but isolated, and the radiance when he met Cinderella was so overwhelming.  

I went to the opening weekend of Nutcracker at Segerstrom in 2015. (Was that the first year on the west coast?) At the afternoon dress rehearsal, Gorak apparently freaked out over the Cavalier role and there was a long wait for Whiteside to come out in practice clothes and finish the rehearsal. Gorak did some minor roles that weekend, but no cavalier then (or ever, as far as I know). Even the most seasoned men had trouble with that final PdD, especially the torch lift. That was a long time ago and it seems he never really recovered or figured out what he needed to do to conquer those problems, as Bell did.

[abatt]

I recall a Theme & Variations performance of Gorak's at the Koch in which he partnered Lane.  Gorak had trouble lifting Lane to a seated position on to his shoulders, and she was precariously dangling.  Apart from that he could not do the double tours required for his solo.  I think that was the last time I ever saw him in a lead role.

[BalanchineFan]

1 hour ago, California said:

went to the opening weekend of Nutcracker at Segerstrom in 2015. (Was that the first year on the west coast?) At the afternoon dress rehearsal, Gorak apparently freaked out over the Cavalier role and there was a long wait for Whiteside to come out in practice clothes and finish the rehearsal.

I saw Whiteside twice this season. Once with Hurlin in SL and once with Murphy in R&J. I have to say that R&J really suits him. He and Murphy were great together. I love her in everything! There's a moment in the first act, after Juliet has been playing with the doll and her Nurse, where Murphy discovers that she has a bosom. So funny and touching.

Whiteside seems much more free as Romeo. Very full with his emotions, beautiful dancing! He turns and spins (which Romeo does more than Prince Siegfried, IIRC) and his jumps seemed easier and more assured. I also think the drama gives Whiteside more to sink his teeth into. 

In 1976 I saw Nureyev dance R&J at the Met. I can't remember if he was with Royal or a guest with ABT. Is this that same, exact production?

[nanushka]

39 minutes ago, BalanchineFan said:

In 1976 I saw Nureyev dance R&J at the Met. I can't remember if he was with Royal or a guest with ABT. Is this that same, exact production?

In April of that year, Nureyev danced MacMillan's Romeo at the Met with the Royal.

[bingham]

57 minutes ago, BalanchineFan said:

I saw Whiteside twice this season. Once with Hurlin in SL and once with Murphy in R&J. I have to say that R&J really suits him. He and Murphy were great together. I love her in everything! There's a moment in the first act, after Juliet has been playing with the doll and her Nurse, where Murphy discovers that she has a bosom. So funny and touching.

Whiteside seems much more free as Romeo. Very full with his emotions, beautiful dancing! He turns and spins (which Romeo does more than Prince Siegfried, IIRC) and his jumps seemed easier and more assured. I also think the drama gives Whiteside more to sink his teeth into. 

In 1976 I saw Nureyev dance R&J at the Met. I can't remember if he was with Royal or a guest with ABT. Is this that same, exact production?

I don’t remember R Nureyev dancing R and J with ABT .He did dance with La Scala when it came To the MET.

[BalanchineFan]

On 7/24/2023 at 9:22 AM, nanushka said:

In April of that year, Nureyev danced MacMillan's Romeo at the Met with the Royal.

Wow! i can't believe you found that. The weird thing is, I remember it happening in July of 1976. I don't think I'd have been in NYC in April.

[lmspear]

53 minutes ago, BalanchineFan said:

Wow! i can't believe you found that. The weird thing is, I remember it happening in July of 1976. I don't think I'd have been in NYC in April.

In July 1978, Nureyev danced in his own production of R&J at the Met with the London Festival Ballet (now the English National Ballet). Perhaps this is the performance you remember. https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/19/archives/ballet-nureyevs-version-of-romeo.html