Angel Corella's final performance with ABT will be in Swan Lake on June 28. This is tough to take. What a huge, empty hole this will leave. Haglund remembers seeing Angel right before his first performance with ABT at the Met when he was wandering around in the Capezio store looking for a pair of shoes to buy to wear for the performance. It seems like yesterday. More than any other ABT dancer, the images of Angel's live performances are burned into Haglund's memory. When one comes that close to crackling electricity, it becomes something one never forgets.
It's sad how in the past few years we have been robbed of so many performances by Angel simply because Kevin McKenzie seemed to want to punish him for whatever. So, now we're permanently losing one more great dancer before his time.
Remember Angel's gorgeous lift of Diana Vishneva in this Giselle?
Of course, ABT in a panic today immediately plugged a dumpy guest artist into one of Angel's open Le Corsaire slots, so that the dumpy guest artist will now be dancing Ali on Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday Matinee. Now everyone will have the opportunity to see him for three straight performances run up stage, suddenly turn around, jump up, split his squatty little legs and touch his barely pointed feet. Oh, the excitement is just too much to take, and Haglund will have to scratch off those three performances from his dwindling list for ABT's Spring Season.
Angel's Barcelona Ballet opens at City Center on Tuesday April 17 and runs through Friday, April 20th. BE THERE!
28 responses to “Angel Corella’s last ABT performance”
Ugh, I know. But I’m on the fence and may have to sit through one of those moments, just to see the Dvorovenko/Saveliev/Kajiya/Matthews/Scott part of the bill. Yuriko got so few big roles this season.
Ugh, I know. But I’m on the fence and may have to sit through one of those moments, just to see the Dvorovenko/Saveliev/Kajiya/Matthews/Scott part of the bill. Yuriko got so few big roles this season.
Poor Angel 🙁 I hate to see him shoved out like this, but no one can doubt he will continue to do great things in Spain. He hasn’t performed out here with ABT in several years, unfortunately, though I was able to see him again briefly with Corella Ballet when they toured.
Poor Angel 🙁 I hate to see him shoved out like this, but no one can doubt he will continue to do great things in Spain. He hasn’t performed out here with ABT in several years, unfortunately, though I was able to see him again briefly with Corella Ballet when they toured.
Rachel, I’m not just saying this –
ABT should really give Jared Matthews a shot at Ali or else allow Herman the option of dancing it either during the Saturday matinee or Tuesday. Then move both Matthews (as Lankendem or Ali) and Simkiin (as Lankendem or Ali) to Friday. This knee-jerk reaction of McKenzie’s to automatically insert a guest artist whenever he can possibly do so instead of using an ABT dancer is the true sign of an impotent director who has slept on the job far too long.
Rachel, I’m not just saying this –
ABT should really give Jared Matthews a shot at Ali or else allow Herman the option of dancing it either during the Saturday matinee or Tuesday. Then move both Matthews (as Lankendem or Ali) and Simkiin (as Lankendem or Ali) to Friday. This knee-jerk reaction of McKenzie’s to automatically insert a guest artist whenever he can possibly do so instead of using an ABT dancer is the true sign of an impotent director who has slept on the job far too long.
Ha – I don’t disagree. Imagine how Jared’s gorgeous arms would look in that choreography? (compared to whatever Vasiliev’s arms wind up doing while his legs are bounding and performing choreography). McKenzie often seems to go for dancers who have issues with their arm/neck/head lines. It never ceases to amaze me. Hopefully Jared will have a break out performance in Onegin and finally get the buzz he needs to get him moved up.
I also can’t wait for Hammoudi to move up – I have a feeling at least THAT soloist promotion may come this season. He’s starting to look absolutely ridiculous stuck back there in those peasant corps costumes.
Ha – I don’t disagree. Imagine how Jared’s gorgeous arms would look in that choreography? (compared to whatever Vasiliev’s arms wind up doing while his legs are bounding and performing choreography). McKenzie often seems to go for dancers who have issues with their arm/neck/head lines. It never ceases to amaze me. Hopefully Jared will have a break out performance in Onegin and finally get the buzz he needs to get him moved up.
I also can’t wait for Hammoudi to move up – I have a feeling at least THAT soloist promotion may come this season. He’s starting to look absolutely ridiculous stuck back there in those peasant corps costumes.
:'( i’m so sad! My 10 yr old daughter has been obsessed with ABT’s corsaire on youtube & really likes angel (high praise as all boys are gross)- i was really excited to take her to see him dance Ali live. His incredible joyous energy will be missed.
:'( i’m so sad! My 10 yr old daughter has been obsessed with ABT’s corsaire on youtube & really likes angel (high praise as all boys are gross)- i was really excited to take her to see him dance Ali live. His incredible joyous energy will be missed.
Yeah, I can’t wait for the tell-all interview.
Yeah, I can’t wait for the tell-all interview.
I pretty much feel like crying over this. So many years I flew to NY to see Corella perform. Now I live in NY and this is his last year performing at the Met. I regret never getting to see him as Romeo (he withdrew at the last moment when I had tickets). I will watch him as Albrecht and Seigfried this season. Still trying to figure out which Barcelona Ballet performances he will be dancing in the most!
I pretty much feel like crying over this. So many years I flew to NY to see Corella perform. Now I live in NY and this is his last year performing at the Met. I regret never getting to see him as Romeo (he withdrew at the last moment when I had tickets). I will watch him as Albrecht and Seigfried this season. Still trying to figure out which Barcelona Ballet performances he will be dancing in the most!
Frankly, I’m not sad at all. For an artist, it’s very important that he/she is constantly moving forward, learning new skills, improving and exploring. Angel is only 35 yrs old, he could have kept dancing with ABT for another 5 or 8 years if he wanted to, but instead he started his own company in 2008. His action is actually telling. He reinvented himself as a dancer, and gained freedom on what and how and when and why he dances by being the AD of his own company. It is a very good thing. He retires from ABT doesn’t mean he retires from dancing…yet. By the time he’s 40, and by the rate things are going for Barcelona Ballet, he could have a very successful and solid company for years to come. To be forced out or not, I think he made a choice for himself.
Frankly, I’m not sad at all. For an artist, it’s very important that he/she is constantly moving forward, learning new skills, improving and exploring. Angel is only 35 yrs old, he could have kept dancing with ABT for another 5 or 8 years if he wanted to, but instead he started his own company in 2008. His action is actually telling. He reinvented himself as a dancer, and gained freedom on what and how and when and why he dances by being the AD of his own company. It is a very good thing. He retires from ABT doesn’t mean he retires from dancing…yet. By the time he’s 40, and by the rate things are going for Barcelona Ballet, he could have a very successful and solid company for years to come. To be forced out or not, I think he made a choice for himself.
“Knock on wood” that the Barcelona Ballet really takes off in its new home and that we eventually see it in a Lincoln Center theater before too long.
Angel has made it clear that he has always been available to dance full or nearly full seasons with ABT at the Met. It has been McKenzie’s choice to cut him out, and some of that just may have to do with the fact that one of Angel’s biggest fans, who happened to be a major donor at ABT, began also donating to Angel’s new company in a major way.
It is extremely difficult for any ballet dancer to remain in top shape when the company denies him/her performances. McKenzie did the same thing last year to Wiles – he just kept cutting her back and cutting her back until she had no career at ABT. Now he’s done it with Angel, as well as Beloserkovsky, and he’s beginning work on shoving out Abrera. It’s time for McKenzie to get the shove. The way he is substituting foreign crap for ABT’s wonderful dancers is enough to make one vomit.
“Knock on wood” that the Barcelona Ballet really takes off in its new home and that we eventually see it in a Lincoln Center theater before too long.
Angel has made it clear that he has always been available to dance full or nearly full seasons with ABT at the Met. It has been McKenzie’s choice to cut him out, and some of that just may have to do with the fact that one of Angel’s biggest fans, who happened to be a major donor at ABT, began also donating to Angel’s new company in a major way.
It is extremely difficult for any ballet dancer to remain in top shape when the company denies him/her performances. McKenzie did the same thing last year to Wiles – he just kept cutting her back and cutting her back until she had no career at ABT. Now he’s done it with Angel, as well as Beloserkovsky, and he’s beginning work on shoving out Abrera. It’s time for McKenzie to get the shove. The way he is substituting foreign crap for ABT’s wonderful dancers is enough to make one vomit.
It’s just sad. Not only his retirement as a clear and permanent statement now but also the way how everything has been handled in the past and as we can see from the replacements, it seems like it’s not just in the past.
It’s just sad. Not only his retirement as a clear and permanent statement now but also the way how everything has been handled in the past and as we can see from the replacements, it seems like it’s not just in the past.
Hi Kallima.
Yes. Terribly true. Terribly sad.
Hi Kallima.
Yes. Terribly true. Terribly sad.
Speaking of “shoving out Abrera,” It strikes me that instead of viewing Stella’s remarkable performances of Aurora in RBNZ’s Sleeping Beauty as a demonstration that she is entirely able to carry a full ballet from start to finish, and a most demanding one at that, he is actually PUNISHING her for having “betrayed” him to go off and dance with Ethan Stiefel’s company. I think McKenzie has serious narcissistic issues, and he experienced Stella’s “defection” as a narcissistic injury, for which he will never forgive her. Sad. Where could she find a better home?
Speaking of “shoving out Abrera,” It strikes me that instead of viewing Stella’s remarkable performances of Aurora in RBNZ’s Sleeping Beauty as a demonstration that she is entirely able to carry a full ballet from start to finish, and a most demanding one at that, he is actually PUNISHING her for having “betrayed” him to go off and dance with Ethan Stiefel’s company. I think McKenzie has serious narcissistic issues, and he experienced Stella’s “defection” as a narcissistic injury, for which he will never forgive her. Sad. Where could she find a better home?
Haglund, just wanted to relay something that I read in the New Yorker. Apparently, the only piece Mr. Corella is dancing in is the new work, Pálpito. This is not surprising since in prior seasons, the arrangement has been similar. Just wanted to spread the word for anyone who was wondering.
Haglund, just wanted to relay something that I read in the New Yorker. Apparently, the only piece Mr. Corella is dancing in is the new work, Pálpito. This is not surprising since in prior seasons, the arrangement has been similar. Just wanted to spread the word for anyone who was wondering.
Thanks much for the update. I kind of thought that he would choose not to feature himself prominently and, instead, shine the light on his company dancers. Can’t fault him for that. Still, whenever he is on stage, he tends to bring up everyone else’s game.
Thanks much for the update. I kind of thought that he would choose not to feature himself prominently and, instead, shine the light on his company dancers. Can’t fault him for that. Still, whenever he is on stage, he tends to bring up everyone else’s game.