In Manhattan a siren is heard about every three minutes or so in nearly every neighborhood. We’ve learned to tune out most of them. Even walking along the sidewalk in Hell’s Kitchen when Engine 54 with its catchy painted slogan Never missed a performance barrels by with its 120 decibel trumpets, we just nod respectfully and let it pass without even covering our ears. Every so often, however, a siren comes by with such striking force and drama that it causes us to pause in admiration of its beauty and power. Yes, of course we are talking about Veronika Part in her debut as The Siren in last night’s performance of Balanchine's Prodigal Son opposite Daniil Simkin. Who else would we be talking about?!
Oh my my. As Veronika’s Siren stalked Daniil’s young and impressionable Prodigal Son around the stage, it almost seemed time to call the police; but even their sirens would have been no match for Veronika's. She was going to get her man-boy and he was going to like it – at least initially. She wrapped herself around her victim like some sexy python-lady, tender at first, and then she went for the hard squeeze. And it was all but over. It was a miracle that he managed to survive her. But he did. When after a few days of hard partying he struggled to his knees for the long crawl of repentance back to his father, he was truly defeated and humbled.
Simkin’s Prodigal Son is not yet close to the interpretative level of Daniel Ulbricht or Joaquin De Luz who currently perform it at NYCB or to Angel Corella whose performance in the role left vivid memories. Given the infrequency that ABT performs the ballet, he may never have enough chances to perform the role in order to build into the character but we’ll take what we got last night. His attraction/fear of Veronika’s Siren looked authentic. It was not the wild ride he had with Irina Dvorovenko some years ago, but it was pretty darn good.
The Drinking Companions (listed in the program as Ahn, Frenette, Holloway, Lyle, Ogle, Sumitani, Vendt, Whiteley, and Zhang) easily measured up to the Companions at NYCB, and may have even been slightly more impressive due to their generally larger size. Alexei Agoudine and Sean Stewart danced and mingled well as the Servants to the Prodigal Son. Initially we were paying close attention to their main stage duet until we noticed Veronika’s Siren up stage with her back to the audience begin pawing with lingering fingers at the hesitant-but-receptive Prodigal Son. Then we couldn’t take our eyes off the action at the back of the stage.
Also on the program was Ashton’s Monotones I and II for which we had the good fortune of a cast change in Monotones II. Veronika, Cory Stearns and Thomas Forster replaced Hee Seo, Alexandre Hammoudi, and Sung Woo Han. The grande adage à trois of the twin men partnering the moon-inspired woman between them exquisitely echoed many of the formations and movements seen in the terrestrial-inspired Monotones I which was performed by Stella Abrera, Joseph Gorak, and Isabella Boylston. Stella and Joseph have complimentary physiques of length and grace. Isabella, with her dropped pelvis and dreadful upper body simply looked out of place – in the trio and in the ballet. While we understand how much it pleases Stella to dance the role created on her late coach, Georgina Parkinson, we would prefer to see her advance to the role in the front and see Isabella moved to the role in the back – if only for the sake of the audience.
Sandwiched between the Ashton and Balanchine was Ratmansky’s Serenade after Plato’s Symposium. It doesn’t compare favorably to either of the other dances on the program. Overly packed with steps, underwhelming in drama or narrative, oddly costumed, and minimally lit, the whole dance was quite simply virtuosity for virtuosity’s sake. The virtuosity was fabulous. The virtuosity was impressive. The virtuosity stunned in some cases. So what? Haglund loves over-the-top virtuosity when it is presented honestly, like in Etudes, Theme and Variations or even in Le Corsaire. In Symposium, there was an effort to make us think that it was all so very important and meaningful, but it was a failed effort. The dancers loved doing all the steps, loved showing off with virtuosity, loved pretending that it was intellectually stimulating. So what? They didn’t pay $100 to watch it.
The H.H. Pump Bump Award, a jeweled stiletto with octopus tentacles hugging the heel, is bestowed upon Veronika Part, the Siren of every man’s dreams.
22 responses to “ABT – Watch out for the Siren 10/26”
Hi Haglund,
I’ve so been waiting for your review of Simkin/Part Prodigal! It was worth the wait. Thanks again for your perceptive and entertaining viewpoints. Also, futile question: I would like to know why the AD doesn’t think Part merits a Giselle.
Hi Haglund,
I’ve so been waiting for your review of Simkin/Part Prodigal! It was worth the wait. Thanks again for your perceptive and entertaining viewpoints. Also, futile question: I would like to know why the AD doesn’t think Part merits a Giselle.
“… we would prefer to see her advance to the role in the front and see Isabella moved to the role in the back …” — what about dumping (verb chosen intentionally) Isabella into the second cast with Misty (and then avoiding those performances, of course) and letting Sarah advance into the first cast with Stella and Joseph? That was the very first thought I had (knowing, of course, that it would never happen) upon seeing Kochetkova’s name missing from the season announcement back in July.
“… we would prefer to see her advance to the role in the front and see Isabella moved to the role in the back …” — what about dumping (verb chosen intentionally) Isabella into the second cast with Misty (and then avoiding those performances, of course) and letting Sarah advance into the first cast with Stella and Joseph? That was the very first thought I had (knowing, of course, that it would never happen) upon seeing Kochetkova’s name missing from the season announcement back in July.
HH, Even though I wasnt able to get tickets to see the Park/Smikin P-Son, I am sooooooo glad she got a good review from you. I am very #teamronnie! BTW, I a dying to hear your POV on ABT spring schedule. But first, let me give you mine, ‘Yawn’. And WTF with ‘Le Corsaire AGAIN???? Is it to give a ballerina (and I use the term loosely) who sells lots of tickets, a full length ballet she can stumble through? I just give up!
HH, Even though I wasnt able to get tickets to see the Park/Smikin P-Son, I am sooooooo glad she got a good review from you. I am very #teamronnie! BTW, I a dying to hear your POV on ABT spring schedule. But first, let me give you mine, ‘Yawn’. And WTF with ‘Le Corsaire AGAIN???? Is it to give a ballerina (and I use the term loosely) who sells lots of tickets, a full length ballet she can stumble through? I just give up!
Her height led Veronika Part to be cast as Siren and Myrta and not Giselle. Height connotes power and authority. A lot of ballet companies have limited imagination about casting for artistry rather than conventional assumptions about who “looks” the part.
Her height led Veronika Part to be cast as Siren and Myrta and not Giselle. Height connotes power and authority. A lot of ballet companies have limited imagination about casting for artistry rather than conventional assumptions about who “looks” the part.
After reading your review, I’m truly sorry to miss seeing Veronica Part as the Siren, though I look forward to seeing her in the Monotones II tomorrow. Speaking of which, this video clip was posted earlier today to Sarah Lane’s Facebook page; it’s a 2 minute-plus glimpse of the Monotones I rehearsal with Copeland, Lane and Simkin. It looks fascinating and wonderful and it makes me even more excited for tomorrow. https://www.facebook.com/Sarah-Lane-124434904299788/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf
After reading your review, I’m truly sorry to miss seeing Veronica Part as the Siren, though I look forward to seeing her in the Monotones II tomorrow. Speaking of which, this video clip was posted earlier today to Sarah Lane’s Facebook page; it’s a 2 minute-plus glimpse of the Monotones I rehearsal with Copeland, Lane and Simkin. It looks fascinating and wonderful and it makes me even more excited for tomorrow. https://www.facebook.com/Sarah-Lane-124434904299788/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf
Thanks LLF. Hope the performance you see tomorrow goes well. Last time around Copeland, Simkin, and Kochetkova were horrendous in Monotones I – wobbling and out of sync. Maybe the addition of Sarah Lane to the cast this year has made the other two concentrate harder although Misty seems to be having more stability problems than the other two in that FB clip.
Thanks LLF. Hope the performance you see tomorrow goes well. Last time around Copeland, Simkin, and Kochetkova were horrendous in Monotones I – wobbling and out of sync. Maybe the addition of Sarah Lane to the cast this year has made the other two concentrate harder although Misty seems to be having more stability problems than the other two in that FB clip.
Hi Hagland, I saw Veronika as the Siren tonight, and, wow!!! She was stunning. When I first saw the casting, and especially now, I wonder how Hee Seo compares. I can’t imagine her in this role at all. I did however think she was very good in Monotones tonight, as was Stella, although Isabella was wobbling all over the place.
On another note, I’m very much looking forward to hearing your reaction to the spring casting… I have so many questions. Why is Roberto only in two performances? Who might partner Veronika in Swan Lake? What does it mean, on the mailer, that David Hallberg is ‘on leave’? I’m really hoping I get to see Stella / Marcello’s Giselle and I would love to see Veronika’s Swan Lake opposite Marcello or Roberto, although the latter seems very doubtful. I’m also excited about Stella being cast in Onegin, which I’ve never seen, although Cory Stearns has never been a favorite of mine.
Hi Hagland, I saw Veronika as the Siren tonight, and, wow!!! She was stunning. When I first saw the casting, and especially now, I wonder how Hee Seo compares. I can’t imagine her in this role at all. I did however think she was very good in Monotones tonight, as was Stella, although Isabella was wobbling all over the place.
On another note, I’m very much looking forward to hearing your reaction to the spring casting… I have so many questions. Why is Roberto only in two performances? Who might partner Veronika in Swan Lake? What does it mean, on the mailer, that David Hallberg is ‘on leave’? I’m really hoping I get to see Stella / Marcello’s Giselle and I would love to see Veronika’s Swan Lake opposite Marcello or Roberto, although the latter seems very doubtful. I’m also excited about Stella being cast in Onegin, which I’ve never seen, although Cory Stearns has never been a favorite of mine.
I just got home from ABT. Monotones sadly had MC in the cast. Prodigal Son was WONDERFUL. Both Part and Simkin were great. BTW, I always had Peter Boal at the top of my favorite list of sons. Your thoughts?
I just got home from ABT. Monotones sadly had MC in the cast. Prodigal Son was WONDERFUL. Both Part and Simkin were great. BTW, I always had Peter Boal at the top of my favorite list of sons. Your thoughts?
I just saw the Saturday 2pm performance. My first question is why can’t they just do Monotones three times? Why waste the time, the energy and the audience doing other things. I love this ballet. I saw MC in it last season, today she seemed improved and more secure. Yet Sara’s fluidity just accentuates MC’s weaknesses. Part was lovely!
In Prodigal Son, Hee Seo was beautiful but not terribly seductive. I’m enjoying watching Jeffery Cirio develop.
Finally, to the women in G7 (older woman wearing all cream colored clothing, large expensive glasses, and a fur coat on a warm day), TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. It made noises in all 3 ballets, even rang in Prodigal. After the phone chirped multiple times during Monotones and Her Notes, during the 2nd intermission I politely asked her to turn it off, she apologized but did nothing, so it rang during Prodigal Son. Is she “that” important to disturb all that are around her? Shame, shame, shame!
I just saw the Saturday 2pm performance. My first question is why can’t they just do Monotones three times? Why waste the time, the energy and the audience doing other things. I love this ballet. I saw MC in it last season, today she seemed improved and more secure. Yet Sara’s fluidity just accentuates MC’s weaknesses. Part was lovely!
In Prodigal Son, Hee Seo was beautiful but not terribly seductive. I’m enjoying watching Jeffery Cirio develop.
Finally, to the women in G7 (older woman wearing all cream colored clothing, large expensive glasses, and a fur coat on a warm day), TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. It made noises in all 3 ballets, even rang in Prodigal. After the phone chirped multiple times during Monotones and Her Notes, during the 2nd intermission I politely asked her to turn it off, she apologized but did nothing, so it rang during Prodigal Son. Is she “that” important to disturb all that are around her? Shame, shame, shame!
re: the woman in G7. At least she wasn’t wearing size 2 sneakers with blue flashers and kicking her feet under her chair while Mommy completely ignored the effect on everyone around them.
I saw the Seo/Cirio cast, too. Hee’s Siren was the same kittenish Gamzatti that she was in La Bayadere. Nor is she tall enough for the role to make any kind of an impression. No authority to speak of. Cirio wasn’t bad at all. It might possibly have been an awesome performance if Part had been his Siren.
re: the woman in G7. At least she wasn’t wearing size 2 sneakers with blue flashers and kicking her feet under her chair while Mommy completely ignored the effect on everyone around them.
I saw the Seo/Cirio cast, too. Hee’s Siren was the same kittenish Gamzatti that she was in La Bayadere. Nor is she tall enough for the role to make any kind of an impression. No authority to speak of. Cirio wasn’t bad at all. It might possibly have been an awesome performance if Part had been his Siren.
I saw Seo today.
She had some spark for a few moments. But she just wasn’t tall or imperious enough. There is nothing menacing about her. Plus Cirio was bigger than she.
Also, why hasn’t Forster been thrown into the deep end of the pool to partner Veronica? They looked great together today in Monotones II. He is tall enough that even on pointe she still looks tiny and delicate next to him. My heavens, ABT put them together in Swan Lake!
I saw Seo today.
She had some spark for a few moments. But she just wasn’t tall or imperious enough. There is nothing menacing about her. Plus Cirio was bigger than she.
Also, why hasn’t Forster been thrown into the deep end of the pool to partner Veronica? They looked great together today in Monotones II. He is tall enough that even on pointe she still looks tiny and delicate next to him. My heavens, ABT put them together in Swan Lake!