UPDATED just a bit yet still not all that I had planned to write. And I'm sorry I haven't time to re-do the photos (but I love this one of Xiomara, Jose Manuel and Julie) and links because I had some fun stuff included. Of all times for Typepad to go sour on me! Anyway, now I'll open the comments.
Tuesday October 21, 2008 - I wrote a very long and detailed description of ABT's opening night at City Center and when I went to post it, Typepad devoured it. I had spent over two hours working on it, with photos and links, and I have neither the time nor the patience to re-do it. So, instead here is a very quick re-cap of the evening (which I have now embellished a bit):
THEME & VARIATIONS: Paloma Herrera and Marcelo Gomes were grand and gave the gala a great jump-start with their technical dazzle and their prima/primo personalities. I've missed Paloma for the last few seasons so need to make amends in the coming Met season. Marcelo always looks like he is having the time of his life onstage. And Maria Riccetto looked lovely among the demi-solistes...brava! This ballet looks very nice against a black backdrop which sets off the pastel rose and violet tutus.
Pas de deux from Tudor's ROMEO & JULIET: Extraordinary! Gillian Murphy and David Hallberg were so poetic and they sustained their characterizations into the curtain calls. Lovely Delius score. This was one of the most literally entracing dance performances I've seen in a while: dancers who managed to keep a gala audience under their spell in a no-fireworks piece. That's saying something. A real feeling of intimacy between Gillian and David - they are becoming a really top-class partnership and they look so glorious together. This is not the balcony pas de deux but the 'morning-after' duet where Romeo takes leave of his bride. He is about to rush off when they melt onto the floor and kiss - an unusual and very tender moment. Then he actually does depart, without looking back. Gillian kneels on the bed where they have slept together, longing after him with quiet resignation as her leg drifts into a graceful arabesque. Perfect!
TIME, a solo for Michele Wiles choreographed by Craig Salstein to Schumann Traumerei. This shows Michele off beautifully in terms of extension and line. The tall, willowy ballerina is alone in the spotlight in a simple flowy tulle skirt. What I liked - aside from her cool control - was the way Craig sensed the undercurrents in the music and depicted them with subtle physical nuances. TIME could be expanded, keeping the solo as part of a larger piece and adding a partner for an adagio, and maybe even a small corps. There is certainly plenty of Schumann piano music to work with. As it stands, the solo is a really nice souvenir of Michele's qualities as a ballerina.
Pas de trois from Kylian's OVERGROWN PATH: Julie Kent sublime as an unhappy woman in a red dress and soft slippers. With Gennadi Saveliev (hunky and strong) and Jared Matthews (lyrical and ardent). The Janacek piano score is moody. Look forward to seeing the complete ballet next week when I will be able to see the context from which this trio is drawn. Julie Kent is just...remarkable.
DON QUIXOTE pas de deux: Xiomara Reyes and Jose Manuel Carreno danced brilliantly, but they left out the variations! It was entrada-adagio-coda!! Every time I see Carreno I think: he cannot get any handsomer. And then he does. What a presence. No wonder some people come to the ballet just to see sexy super-stars. He also danced with casual, effortless bravura. After loving Xiomara as Giselle this past Spring, I was very taken with her tonight. Her second big balance in the adagio was especially steady and sustained, and her fouettes were taken so fast yet she seemed to be nodding: "Faster!" to the maestro...so much fun. She's such a doll, really, and they were very smooth in partnering and very flashy when flash was called for. The decision to leave out the variations seemed almost spontaneous.
COMPANY B: Paul Taylor's ballet romps to the songs of the Andrews Sisters but has dark undertones which foreshadow the coming war. ABT have cast it really nicely with Misty Copeland having a rousing success in the naughty Rum and Coca-Cola. Extraordinary solos by Aaron Scott, Craig Salstein and Herman Cornejo, a lyrical solo by Gillian Murphy (who couldn't hide her star-quality in the ensembles) and a very fine performance from Simone Messmer in her poignant duet with Grant DeLong. Marian Butler and Roddy Doble kicked things off with a lively Pennsylvania Polka. I'll be seeing COMPANY B again twice next week so can give more details then. It's a really unusual piece and for all the upbeat music, it is not really a 'happy' ballet. But the Andrews Sisters truly are the bee's knees. How I enjoyed their close harmonizing and rhythmic detail.
Veronika Part, Ana Sophia Scheller, Daniil Simkin and Jacques D'Amboise were all there.
I apologize again for this cobbled-together post. The original was - believe me - much better!
Tonya writes about the evening here with a nicely detailed view of Craig's ballet TIME.
Philip -- what you think is a "cobbled-together" review is more detailed and better written than almost all of the other reviewers around (including "name" critics with major newspapers). I was already excited about seeing ABT on Sat. afternoon, but after reading your review I literally can't wait!
Posted by: Deborah | October 22, 2008 at 09:43 AM
You would not believe how frustrated I was when my original post disappeared into cyber-space! I have a big vocabulary of curse words and I used them all...that's a side of me you probably haven't seen!
Anyway, now that I added a bit since last night I feel better about it. I should write more about the Kylian, but I will when I've have a chance to see it next week.
One nice thing about this gala was that it featured all of the ABT principals who have been announced to appear at the City Center performances (a few of the stars had opted out of the Fall season), as well as giving some nice opportunities to the fine corps dancers like Aaron Scott and Simone Messmer.
Posted by: Philip | October 22, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Choreography by Craig? What a talented guy...
Posted by: Jim | October 22, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Craig also teaches Company class.
Posted by: Philip | October 22, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Terrific review as usual.ABT must really trust him to handle the company class.i don't recall of anyone teaching co class while still very young.He must still be in his twenties,Too bad i will miss the season,will be out of the country for the next 2 weeks.
.
Posted by: jose | October 23, 2008 at 12:53 AM
Thank you so much for the shout-out :) I really did love Craig's work -- I think it shows he really has a future as a choreographer, if he wants to go in that direction.
Great review too, and, as everyone else is saying, I can't believe this is the 'inferior' draft. I would like to see some of those pictures you lost though...
Posted by: tonya | October 23, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Craig became a Company class teacher by vote of his colleagues. He has strong grounding, having worked with Edward Villella at Miami City Ballet. He also has keen musical instincts and is one of the few young people I know who is really into opera.
Tonya, I found the photos thru Google image search but I am too busy (lazy?) to search for them again!
Posted by: Philip | October 23, 2008 at 02:05 PM