Some people are about to think Christmas came early.
Just published on ABT's calendar – Yuriko Kajiya and Jared Matthews will debut as Giselle and Albrecht in Chicago on March 25th. Debuting as Myrtha will be Devon Teuscher.
ballet blog with occasional diversions
Some people are about to think Christmas came early.
Just published on ABT's calendar – Yuriko Kajiya and Jared Matthews will debut as Giselle and Albrecht in Chicago on March 25th. Debuting as Myrtha will be Devon Teuscher.
24 responses to “Giselle debuts in Chicago”
What’s your take on this, Haglund? I’m not happy.
What’s your take on this, Haglund? I’m not happy.
OMG. If this is true I am SO going to Chicago.
(Not sure about Devon – I’d have liked to see Christine Shevchenko given a shot at Myrtha…but it’s irrelevant)
OMG. If this is true I am SO going to Chicago.
(Not sure about Devon – I’d have liked to see Christine Shevchenko given a shot at Myrtha…but it’s irrelevant)
I also wonder if this has anything to do with the fact Giselle is touring to Korea this summer? Does Yuriko’s fame extend outside Japan to the rest of Asia?
I also wonder if this has anything to do with the fact Giselle is touring to Korea this summer? Does Yuriko’s fame extend outside Japan to the rest of Asia?
My hope had been to see Stella cast on that Sunday, and it looked like Marcelo’s schedule would have allowed that nice combination. (McKenzie’s faux philosophy of matching experienced dancers with debuting dancers only seems to apply to a very few – basically Stearns and Seo.)
However, Yuriko and Jared in Giselle could be HISTORIC. Both are so ready for it. It just depends on whether she’s allowed to employ her natural phrasing which seems to have been muted of late, and whether Jared gets a real coach. Look at the male coaches at ABT: McKenzie, who was as boring an Albrecht as one could ever imagine, and Barbee and Clinton Luckett who didn’t dance the role. Who’s going to help Jared? It’s pathetic.
But it really could be a historic performance, and I may well go to see it, too.
There are a few ABT Giselles slated for April at the Virginia Arts Festival. As useless as it may sound, perhaps we can hope that Stella will get one of those with a truly experienced Albrecht. She has no Met debuts this year at all, and her steady parts have been axed almost to nothing. It saddens me to see her have to leave ABT in order to get classical growing opportunities. Very sad to see this fine dancer wasted.
My hope had been to see Stella cast on that Sunday, and it looked like Marcelo’s schedule would have allowed that nice combination. (McKenzie’s faux philosophy of matching experienced dancers with debuting dancers only seems to apply to a very few – basically Stearns and Seo.)
However, Yuriko and Jared in Giselle could be HISTORIC. Both are so ready for it. It just depends on whether she’s allowed to employ her natural phrasing which seems to have been muted of late, and whether Jared gets a real coach. Look at the male coaches at ABT: McKenzie, who was as boring an Albrecht as one could ever imagine, and Barbee and Clinton Luckett who didn’t dance the role. Who’s going to help Jared? It’s pathetic.
But it really could be a historic performance, and I may well go to see it, too.
There are a few ABT Giselles slated for April at the Virginia Arts Festival. As useless as it may sound, perhaps we can hope that Stella will get one of those with a truly experienced Albrecht. She has no Met debuts this year at all, and her steady parts have been axed almost to nothing. It saddens me to see her have to leave ABT in order to get classical growing opportunities. Very sad to see this fine dancer wasted.
You are more than right about Stella but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. It would be too much the right thing to do to actually happen.
Hopefully Jared will get more useful coaching than Simkin seems to, though Jared is a MUCH better actor so right there he’s starting with an advantage. I know he can do it!
You are more than right about Stella but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. It would be too much the right thing to do to actually happen.
Hopefully Jared will get more useful coaching than Simkin seems to, though Jared is a MUCH better actor so right there he’s starting with an advantage. I know he can do it!
Jared’s Hilarion blew me away. He lived out every ounce of misery that Myrtha threw his way. He’ll be a super Albrecht. I hope in Act II, he chooses to do the diagonal of frantic brises like Baryshnikov/Bocca/Stiefel and others have done instead of the stationary entrechat sixes.
Damn, it’s about time.
Jared’s Hilarion blew me away. He lived out every ounce of misery that Myrtha threw his way. He’ll be a super Albrecht. I hope in Act II, he chooses to do the diagonal of frantic brises like Baryshnikov/Bocca/Stiefel and others have done instead of the stationary entrechat sixes.
Damn, it’s about time.
I think this is the first role they’ve given to Kajiya that recognizes she’s not the technician they keep trying to make her into, so that is good news. She is a lyrical dancer and hopefully she shines in the role.
Obviously it is disappointing as I have been hoping (as we all have, here) for Stella to get her chance again, and is very sad that they’ve debuted three soloists in Giselle ahead of her now. It would only seem fair to let her get a crack at something new as the senior soloist.
Jared should be great; he’s only been getting better and better.
I think this is the first role they’ve given to Kajiya that recognizes she’s not the technician they keep trying to make her into, so that is good news. She is a lyrical dancer and hopefully she shines in the role.
Obviously it is disappointing as I have been hoping (as we all have, here) for Stella to get her chance again, and is very sad that they’ve debuted three soloists in Giselle ahead of her now. It would only seem fair to let her get a crack at something new as the senior soloist.
Jared should be great; he’s only been getting better and better.
Totally agree about Kajiya. They seem to have been pushing her in the bravura direction and stripping her of her lyrical eloquence. She and Jared will be outstanding together, and you can bet your life that Jared will make the overhead lifts in Act II.
As recently as last month, Stella indicated to an interviewer in New Zealand that she hoped to dance Giselle with ABT next year. She wouldn’t have mentioned it if she didn’t think she had a chance. It is a shame that the junior soloists and guest artists are being given her opportunities. McKenzie just seems to like to jerk her around.
Totally agree about Kajiya. They seem to have been pushing her in the bravura direction and stripping her of her lyrical eloquence. She and Jared will be outstanding together, and you can bet your life that Jared will make the overhead lifts in Act II.
As recently as last month, Stella indicated to an interviewer in New Zealand that she hoped to dance Giselle with ABT next year. She wouldn’t have mentioned it if she didn’t think she had a chance. It is a shame that the junior soloists and guest artists are being given her opportunities. McKenzie just seems to like to jerk her around.
Based on the lifts I saw them do in a white swan pdd not only will Jared make the lifts…he will KILL them. Can’t wait to book my tickets.
Based on the lifts I saw them do in a white swan pdd not only will Jared make the lifts…he will KILL them. Can’t wait to book my tickets.
I think I’ll wait a while to book to see if the casting for the whole run sticks. You know how that goes.
I think I’ll wait a while to book to see if the casting for the whole run sticks. You know how that goes.
Wow, this is incredible and I am sooooo happy that Jared and Yuriko have the leads in Giselle. Jared is a handsome guy and looks like a Prince onstage.
They dance beautifully together and have both put in the time at ABT to get this wonderful opportunity.
I have already gotten my tickets for this debut.
Wow, this is incredible and I am sooooo happy that Jared and Yuriko have the leads in Giselle. Jared is a handsome guy and looks like a Prince onstage.
They dance beautifully together and have both put in the time at ABT to get this wonderful opportunity.
I have already gotten my tickets for this debut.
Fabulous! It could be historic. Could be.
Fabulous! It could be historic. Could be.