Today Haglund was watching the ABT calendar as the webmaster added the casting for the 2009 Met season. It was more stressful than watching the stock market in recent weeks. As everyone knows, ABT’s initial castings are preliminary and there are always changes – the most important of which always come AFTER we’ve ordered tickets.
Haglund's first relief – Abrera and Hallberg have the Wednesday matinee performance of Giselle. Will this finally come to pass or is God just toying with us?
Second relief – Abrera got two performances as Gulnare in Le Corsaire. I thought this would be the year she moved over to Medora, but no such luck.
Third relief – We will FINALLY see Herman Cornejo as Ali in Le Corsaire, but unfortunately, that Saturday matinee performance comes with Cory Stearns in the lead, again with Irina Dvorovenko. Haglund is going to try to avoid this kid wherever possible, but he has this dreadful feeling that McKenzie is going to pair Stearns up with Haglund’s favorite Abrera thereby creating such internal conflict for Haglund that he may have to go back into therapy just to get through the spring season.
Fourth relief – we will get one last chance to see Nina in Giselle before her final ABT performance of Swan Lake on June 27th. She will dance with Jose Manuel Carreno who seems to have little to do this season.
The young Daniil Simkin is listed for three performances of Lankendem in Le Corsaire, including two on the same day – you can bet that’ll change.
Maria Riccetto snagged a lead in Mozartiana. She will be gorgeous.
Michele Wiles and Ethan Stiefel will be fantastic in Prodigal Son. The three performances in which Angel Corella will be the Prodigal Son is TBA with regard to the female lead. Haglund prays that Kristi Boone gets a shot at this role. How incredible would that be??!! Also, there are two uncast Myrtas, including the Abrera/Hallberg performance. If there is a god, please give Kristi a nod.
Now Osipova – she’s dancing a Giselle with Stiefel and two performances of La Sylphide with Hallberg? I would have hoped for a Hallberg/Abrera La Sylphide – oh, well.
Roberto Bolle has some interesting partners – Julie Kent for two Romeo and Juliets, Michele Wiles in Sylvia, and Paloma Herrera in Giselle (with Michele as Myrta) – and a performance not to miss – Swan Lake with Veronika Part.
There are lots of TBAs, as usual.
Haglund is trying to temper his excitement, because it is a very long wait until May 18th and he doesn’t want to exhaust himself with anticipation. But he's already picked out what he's going to wear to the opening night Gala: