For me, OPUS 19/THE DREAMER is the most satisfying of all the Jerome Robbins ballets, in part because of the incredible other-worldly atmosphere that pervades the work and also because the score - Prokofiev Violin Concerto #1 - is so luminous and Robbins has really used the music in a way which 'visualizes' its most striking qualities.
The ballet returns to the New York City Ballet repertoire this week with two different casts; naturally I must see both. In the above Henry Leutwyler photo, Wendy Whelan and Robert Fairchild. They are both cast this week, but not together: Wendy opens on Wednesday May 27th with Gonzalo Garcia (his best role with the Company to date, in my view) and Rob will dance with Janie Taylor (!!!) in their joint Lincoln Center debuts in this work on Saturday May 30th matinee.
Listen to the music: this recording featuring the superb playing of violinist Cho-Liang Lin is a perfect choice for NYCB devotees since you get not just the DREAMER score, but also the Stravinsky Violin Concerto which Balanchine set for one of his finest masterworks.
You can also sample the Prokofiev #1 here: the third movement with its ear-tinging sheen played by the distinctive Hilary Hahn (above).
I haven't seen this ballet yet. I hope to make it there this week. But I have to decide which cast!! What a dilemma!
Posted by: Sandi D. | May 26, 2009 at 01:00 PM
The only solution is to go twice!!
Posted by: Philip | May 26, 2009 at 01:40 PM