Balanchine & Robbins at NYCB

Thursday May 28, 2009 - This was the line-up for tonight:

ALLEGRO BRILLANTE: *T. Peck, *Ramasar 
     
OPUS 19/THE DREAMER: Whelan, Garcia 
     
SWAN LAKE: Kowroski, Neal, Abergel, Bar, Seth



The joint debuts of Tiler Peck and Amar Ramasar (headshots above by Paul Kolnik) in ALLEGRO BRILLANTE were highly successful and really enjoyable. Tiler danced with perfect clarity and musicality, her pirouettes delivered with a flourish. Amar seems to have polished up his technique, taking things up a notch. As a partnership, all went smoothly and they are both so attractive to watch. Again, as in TARANTELLA, Tiler for some reason made me think of Patricia McBride. The audience were with them every step of the way and they were warmly applauded. The ensemble of eight marvelous dancers - Rebecca Krohn, Faye, Ashley L, Lauren King, Adrian D-W, Craig, Christian and Austin - provided a luxurious 'corps'.

OPUS 19 is my favorite of all the Jerome Robbins ballets. The music alone would lure me to a performance of it, but I also think it's one of Robbins' most inspired and beautifully structured works. Photo above: Wendy Whelan in OPUS 19 by by Josef Astor. Arturo Delmoni played the solo violin part tonight, putting a nice tonal sheen on the sometimes buzzy texture of the music. 

Spellbound: that is how I felt watching Wendy and Gonzalo tonight. They moved thru the dreamscape with an extraordinary sense of nocturnal poetry; Gonzalo's superb physique and his other-worldly expression, and the many intriguing nuances of gesture that illuminate Wendy's dancing make this ballet so engrossing to watch. Both dancers exude incredible charisma. The musical atmosphere is enhanced by the corps who drift in and out of the dreamer's visions with subtle grace.  

Beautiful finale: Maria Kowroski as Odette in the Balanchine SWAN LAKE in the above Henry Leutwyler photo. Maria and Philip Neal drew a very enthusiastic response both for their technical accomplishment and for the elegance and poignancy of their interpretations. The iconic Kowroski legs seemed extraordinary tonight - yes, even after all these times I've seen her dance - as her arabesques and attitude balances flowed in her trademark adagio style. Philip is such a noble cavalier and he and Maria have developed a classic interpretation of the pas de deux that is so expressive while managing to avoid any sense of lacquered-on drama. How satisfying to hear the insistent applause call them out a third time tonight.

In truth, though, I found that the music seemed just a shade too fast - an uncharacteristic approach from Maestro Kaplow - with just a slight feeling of the dancers being rushed at times. I also have decided that I don't really like the black swans in the white act; the novelty has worn off.

The corps danced well and Ellen Bar led the Valse Bluette with authority and a dramatic air. Continuing her very impressive season, Dena Abergel's dancing in the Pas de Neuf was a pure pleasure - lyrical and serene, and marking the climax of her first solo passage with a remarkably plush sustained balance. Above, in Paul Kolnik headshots: Dena and Ellen.

Comments

[Dick B]

I have been following your Blog for sometime now and have enjoyed it. I also saw the performance last night and concur. I thought Maria was spectacular as was Wendy. I seem to remember from many years ago, Diana Adams dancing in the Pas de Neuf (the music a particular favorite part of the ballet).

[Philip]

Thank you for reading my blog and for leaving a comment, Dick. It's so uncanny that you mention Diana Adams because on my way to the performance last night I stopped at the Performing Arts Library and was perusing the dance books, wondering if there was a biography or memoir of Diana Adams

When I started going to the ballet, I remember people telling me that I had missed the career of the "best Balanchine ballerina" of all: Diana Adams.

[tonya]

What a gorgeous picture of Wendy! And Maria too! I'm sorry I missed Amar and Tiler debuting in Allegro Brillante -- it sounds like they did an excellent job.

[perky]

I think what makes you think about McBride when you watch Tiler dance is that they both have that accessable warmth, that glow that says "come in and join the party!".

You know that I worship at Maria K.'s gorgeous feet so hearing about the three time call-out made so happy. I love Phillip Neal as well. We all know he can partner superbly but he's a wonderful dancer in his own right. He's one of those under-rated dancers that always gives consistent and thoughtful performances.

I've never heard of a biography of Diana Adams. If you do, let me know.

[Philip]

Several people have mentioned the Patty-Tiler connection. Yes, they are both such 'inviting dancers.

Philip's dancing so beautifully these days; I believe he had knee surgery a while back, and he's danced his way back to prince-like status. He's got that classic polish that the younger boys need to study...closely.