The Mariinsky Ballet has added a Sunday, January 25, 3:00 pm "Chopin: Dances for the Piano" performance to its BAM schedule, possibly due to demand. Sometimes It's hard to gauge demand for BAM performances because they engage in the practice of blacking out seats to make it look like there is a greater demand than there is. Whatever the reason, that's good news about the added date.
There is no indication (yet) that the added performance will have a different cast than the one on January 24th.
Single tickets went on sale today to BAM members. General ticket sales begin on December 8th.
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One of our Washington, DC Haglund'eelers was recently in Sydney, Australia and caught a performance of ABT's Gillian Murphy dancing Nikiya in the Australian Ballet's new La Bayadere opposite Kevin Jackson. The production is by Houston Ballet AD Stanton Welch, who was long associated with the Australian Ballet as a performer and resident choreographer.
Thanks to JN for sending along these photos to share with everyone. She's the only one around here who will have had the opportunity to see Gillian's Nikiya this season. ABT has slotted Gillian only as Gamzatti for the spring Met Season while giving away four performances of Nikiya to guest artists and two more to an import. Only two of the eight performances of ABT's La Bayadere will be led by a true ABT ballerina in the leading role of Nikiya.
Bows with Gillian, Kevin Jackson (Solor) and Laura Tong (Gamzatti):
A better picture of Laura Tong's costume:
Laura Tong as Gamzatti with the Raja:
This poster outside the front of the Sydney Opera House depicts soloist Robyn Hendricks. JN saw her dance the role of the 3rd Shade at Gillian's performance and said that she was very impressive.
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Speaking of Stanton Welch, he has scheduled Yuriko Kajiya and Jared Matthews to dance the Act II PdD from Giselle at Houston Ballet's December 5th Jubilee of Dance in Houston. Thanks for this heads-up from Haglund'eeler Patricia.
Lucky Houston.
They're going to go crazy.
Watch.
22 responses to “observations 12/1”
I forgot, did Yuriko have sponsor or promotor behind the scenes when she was at ABT? Murphy is better cast as Gamzatti though that is no reason for KM to abandon giving the home team a shot at Nikiya. Kochetkova keeps tweeting recently about Ardani projects and dancers. Turns out she may be under Ardani management too because of participation in Ardani projects in the past. Now it makes sense that she is dancing Swan Lake and La Bayadere in Met season. If KM wants to invite guest artists why not invite Yuriko instead unless it’s because she is not Russian? Kochetkova can’t be considered strictly Russian in that her career has been based in the West, she is stylistically not Russian if that’s what KM wants. Actually same thing can be said of Semionova. Bring back Yuriko as guest next season to help fill in holes left by Kent, Herrera, and Reyes. As it is now, Semionova already dances in everything, giving the same boring performances in every ballet she is cast.
I forgot, did Yuriko have sponsor or promotor behind the scenes when she was at ABT? Murphy is better cast as Gamzatti though that is no reason for KM to abandon giving the home team a shot at Nikiya. Kochetkova keeps tweeting recently about Ardani projects and dancers. Turns out she may be under Ardani management too because of participation in Ardani projects in the past. Now it makes sense that she is dancing Swan Lake and La Bayadere in Met season. If KM wants to invite guest artists why not invite Yuriko instead unless it’s because she is not Russian? Kochetkova can’t be considered strictly Russian in that her career has been based in the West, she is stylistically not Russian if that’s what KM wants. Actually same thing can be said of Semionova. Bring back Yuriko as guest next season to help fill in holes left by Kent, Herrera, and Reyes. As it is now, Semionova already dances in everything, giving the same boring performances in every ballet she is cast.
Hi, Genna. Yes, Yuriko had a sponsor, but I don’t recall the name. Hopefully, that person has refused to give any further money to ABT.
Hi, Genna. Yes, Yuriko had a sponsor, but I don’t recall the name. Hopefully, that person has refused to give any further money to ABT.
It’s such a shame with La Bayadère. I did realize that there were many guest performances particularly with this ballet, but it didn’t strike me as this extreme until you’ve summed it up like that. Things are getting worse rather than better, and I dare not hope that retirements will actually open up more opportunities although I would like to.
Came across this interesting interview via Gillian Murphy’s Twitter page. About ideas, what’s up next, and also a reference to Angel at PA-Ballet.
It’s such a shame with La Bayadère. I did realize that there were many guest performances particularly with this ballet, but it didn’t strike me as this extreme until you’ve summed it up like that. Things are getting worse rather than better, and I dare not hope that retirements will actually open up more opportunities although I would like to.
Came across this interesting interview via Gillian Murphy’s Twitter page. About ideas, what’s up next, and also a reference to Angel at PA-Ballet.
Submitted too early, also wanted to add that the sentence about coaching Calvin Royal III got me particularly excited!
Submitted too early, also wanted to add that the sentence about coaching Calvin Royal III got me particularly excited!
True, Kallima. Things are getting worse. Every day more and more of ABT’s talent is wasted simply because of the artistic director’s complete inability in developing it and the Board of Directors’ unwillingness to hold his feet to the fire when it comes to results. Until he is replaced, the company will continue to limp along in mediocrity – never able to stand on its own and always needing to be propped up by imports.
True, Kallima. Things are getting worse. Every day more and more of ABT’s talent is wasted simply because of the artistic director’s complete inability in developing it and the Board of Directors’ unwillingness to hold his feet to the fire when it comes to results. Until he is replaced, the company will continue to limp along in mediocrity – never able to stand on its own and always needing to be propped up by imports.
Stella Abrera would make a beautiful Nikiya. Sarah Lane could be cast as Gamzatti. It’s just too bad that the dancers who have put in the hard work at ABT aren’t getting many opportunities.
Stella Abrera would make a beautiful Nikiya. Sarah Lane could be cast as Gamzatti. It’s just too bad that the dancers who have put in the hard work at ABT aren’t getting many opportunities.
Elizabeth, I like your thinking.
Elizabeth, I like your thinking.
Hi, Haglund. Casting has now been posted for the January 25 performance of “Chopin: Dances for Piano”, and I am curious about your thoughts on which date looks better. The casting listed is very similar for the two performances; the only differences are as follows:
Yuri Smekalov (Jan 24) vs. Andrei Yermakov (Jan 25) dancing with Ulyana Lopatkina in “In the Night”
Viktoria Krasnokutskaya (Jan 24) vs. Yana Selina (Jan 25) dancing with Filipp Stepin in “Without”
Nadezhda Batoeva / Alexei Popov (Jan 24) vs. Tatiana Tiliguzova / Ernest Latypov (Jan 25) dancing in “Without”
Hi, Haglund. Casting has now been posted for the January 25 performance of “Chopin: Dances for Piano”, and I am curious about your thoughts on which date looks better. The casting listed is very similar for the two performances; the only differences are as follows:
Yuri Smekalov (Jan 24) vs. Andrei Yermakov (Jan 25) dancing with Ulyana Lopatkina in “In the Night”
Viktoria Krasnokutskaya (Jan 24) vs. Yana Selina (Jan 25) dancing with Filipp Stepin in “Without”
Nadezhda Batoeva / Alexei Popov (Jan 24) vs. Tatiana Tiliguzova / Ernest Latypov (Jan 25) dancing in “Without”
Hi, CMM. I’m afraid that I’m not familiar with several of those dancers. I have always adored Yana Selina in everything I’ve seen her dance. Viktoria Krasnokutskaya looks absolutely charming from the YouTube clips – especially in La Sylphide. My guess is that one would not make a mistake by choosing either the 24th or 25th cast.
Hi, CMM. I’m afraid that I’m not familiar with several of those dancers. I have always adored Yana Selina in everything I’ve seen her dance. Viktoria Krasnokutskaya looks absolutely charming from the YouTube clips – especially in La Sylphide. My guess is that one would not make a mistake by choosing either the 24th or 25th cast.
Thanks, Haglund.
Are you familiar with Yuri Smekalov and/or Andrei Yermakov?
Thanks, Haglund.
Are you familiar with Yuri Smekalov and/or Andrei Yermakov?
CMM, I can’t recall if I saw either during the Mariinsky’s visit a few years ago when they brought Little Humpbacked Horse. There are clips of each on YouTube in a variety of roles.
CMM, I can’t recall if I saw either during the Mariinsky’s visit a few years ago when they brought Little Humpbacked Horse. There are clips of each on YouTube in a variety of roles.