ballet blog with occasional diversions

observations 7/10

Angel Corella will stage a full length Don Quixote for 60 pre-professional students of The Hartt School's Community Division in West Hartford where he is in residence at the school's four-week ballet intensive program. The Don Quixote will be on Saturday, July 26th at 7:30 pm at the Millard Auditorium on the University of Hartford campus. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at 860-768-4228 or 800-274-8587, or visit hcd.hartford.edu, to purchase tickets. Admission is $10.

Unfortunately, at the moment, Haglund has a conflict that night by the name of Spartacus. But the opportunity to see what Corella can do with 60 kids in a Don Quixote is very, very, very tempting. Meanwhile, we're all waiting to see where he will end up as Artistic Director since he hinted strongly that an announcement was forthcoming. Haglund's guess has always been Pennsylvania Ballet although his wish has been ABT.

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The Vail International Dance Festival is running practice sessions around the track before the green flag drops on July 27th. Herman Cornejo has been rehearsing Robbins' Dances at a Gathering with Damian Woetzel. Here's a little video of that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIPsUTBfJpY&feature=youtu.be

One very interesting development is that NYCB's Lauren Lovette and Chase Finlay are preparing to perform the Act II PdD from Giselle. Here's a little video of that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv07nEfaHXw

In case no one has been paying attention, here is why that is important and what it could mean for our futures. (Speculation follows.)

Next year with Peter Martins' new production of La Sylphide, he will be signalling strongly that NYCB is the Number 1 "full-service" ballet company in this city and country – a company that uses its own homegrown artists to present the greatest neo-classical work, contemporary work, new work, and now the greatest full length classics. Next up – Giselle and Don Quixote – the latter could even be Ratmansky's existing production, and wouldn't that be a grand and perfect fit?

Is there anybody out there who wouldn't rather see Lauren Lovette and Chase Finlay in a new production of Giselle, any production, than the new pair offerings that McKenzie has been tossing onto the stage at ABT? Stay tuned.

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Bolshoi Ballet arrives next week. Haglund will see Swan Lake on Friday, July 18th, which is scheduled to be Olga Smirnova and Semyon Chudin followed by Maria Alexandrova's Kitri in Don Quixote. Alexandrova, who has long been one of Haglund's Bolshoi favorites, seems to have miraculously recovered from a severe Achilles tear less than a year ago. Here's hoping that she has the performance that she wants to have.

 

16 responses to “observations 7/10”

  1. Fan Z Avatar
    Fan Z

    On Don Quixote, it would be a dream to see Suzanne Farrell brought back from exile, and have Balanchine’s version…Even just for the artwork itself, without City Ballet’s resources, the piece could die unpreserved

  2. Fan Z Avatar
    Fan Z

    On Don Quixote, it would be a dream to see Suzanne Farrell brought back from exile, and have Balanchine’s version…Even just for the artwork itself, without City Ballet’s resources, the piece could die unpreserved

  3. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Hi, Fan Z.
    I don’t think that’s likely to happen while Martins is at the NYCB helm which is why I spoke of the Ratmansky staging, a Petipa-based version. It was excellent as danced by the Dutch National Ballet, and there’s no reason to think that it wouldn’t be an artistic and financial mega-hit for NYCB.

  4. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Hi, Fan Z.
    I don’t think that’s likely to happen while Martins is at the NYCB helm which is why I spoke of the Ratmansky staging, a Petipa-based version. It was excellent as danced by the Dutch National Ballet, and there’s no reason to think that it wouldn’t be an artistic and financial mega-hit for NYCB.

  5. Steph Avatar
    Steph

    If they do more full length, I want Joaquin De Luz to get some of the roles! He’s got his ABT pedigree (though not enough opportunities) and the Balanchine capabilities.

  6. Steph Avatar
    Steph

    If they do more full length, I want Joaquin De Luz to get some of the roles! He’s got his ABT pedigree (though not enough opportunities) and the Balanchine capabilities.

  7. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Totally agree with you, Steph. He would make a great Albrecht and Basilio. It’s such a shame we haven’t gotten to see them.

  8. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Totally agree with you, Steph. He would make a great Albrecht and Basilio. It’s such a shame we haven’t gotten to see them.

  9. Naomi Avatar
    Naomi

    So looking forward to La Sylphide next year. We know how good DeLuz
    looks in a kilt. I always wondered why Martins didn’t showcase his
    heritage more. It’s exciting to think of NYCB adding more full lengths
    to their rep. Little Humpbacked Horse and Wheeldon’s Cinderella
    would be good choices too. Maybe a 4th season can be added……

  10. Naomi Avatar
    Naomi

    So looking forward to La Sylphide next year. We know how good DeLuz
    looks in a kilt. I always wondered why Martins didn’t showcase his
    heritage more. It’s exciting to think of NYCB adding more full lengths
    to their rep. Little Humpbacked Horse and Wheeldon’s Cinderella
    would be good choices too. Maybe a 4th season can be added……

  11. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    DeLuz will be great in La Sylphide as will Ulbricht. Can’t wait.

  12. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    DeLuz will be great in La Sylphide as will Ulbricht. Can’t wait.

  13. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Oh how lucky you are to get to see Alexandrova!!! She is one of my favorites as well. She reminds me of Martine Van Hamel in that she is so regal, so controlled, so self-assured, and technically perfect. Enjoy!!!!

  14. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Oh how lucky you are to get to see Alexandrova!!! She is one of my favorites as well. She reminds me of Martine Van Hamel in that she is so regal, so controlled, so self-assured, and technically perfect. Enjoy!!!!

  15. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Hi Elizabeth.
    I’m looking forward to seeing Alexandrova very much. I just hope that her Achilles tear/repair/rehab is truly behind her and that she is not re-appearing on stage too soon. I’ve had three such tears and know that it takes a long, long time to recover and adjust to what will be the new normal in terms of range of motion and strength.

  16. Haglund Avatar
    Haglund

    Hi Elizabeth.
    I’m looking forward to seeing Alexandrova very much. I just hope that her Achilles tear/repair/rehab is truly behind her and that she is not re-appearing on stage too soon. I’ve had three such tears and know that it takes a long, long time to recover and adjust to what will be the new normal in terms of range of motion and strength.