Don Q Fan Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 (edited) I am planning a possible trip to New York - if I had the money I would go twice but I can't really justify it but who knows, so assuming I can only go once....I have 2 choices as follows:- 1. NYCB All Balanchine Walpurgisnacht/Sonatine/LaValse/Symphony in C ABT classics - Les Sylphides/Pillar of Fire/Fancy Free NYCB La Sylphide/Bournonville Divertissements ABT classics - Les Sylphides/Jardin aux Lilas/Rodeo OR 2. ABT _ La Bayadere Osipova/Hallberg/Boylston ABT - La Bayadere Smirnova/Chudin/Seo NYCB - Midsummer Night's Dream (Balanchine) Any help appreciated - it is all stuff I will like! Thank you! Edited February 5, 2015 by Don Q Fan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toursenlair Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Hello Don Q fan, you might want to check out the program I'm offering for your first option, which has some great behind-the-scenes extras. (since you asked!) http://toursenlair.blogspot.ca/2015/01/new-york-may-2015-ballet-trip-now.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Number 1 as there are several ballets that we don't see (often) in the UK, especially if you saw La B and/or Midsummer done by the Russians in London last year and the year before. La B will probably be back at the RB in a couple of years time. If this is soon and you are keen to see Smirnova then I would check that she is fit as she has been injured. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 As I absolutely loathed Balanchine's Midsummer Night's Dream when I saw it in Edinburgh some years ago, I would go for your option 1! Also as your option 1 seems to be all mixed programmes I would think there is more of general interest (but that is just me). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 The Bayadere is the Royal Ballet version, isn't it, so you could see that over here. You wouldn't get the same casts, though. And I'm not a huge fan of the Balanchine MND either. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunrise Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 (edited) Have you been to NYC before? If it's a one-off I'd always go for a mixed bill over a full-length and the chance to see a wider variety of principal and soloist dancers, especially as you can see Bayadere and Osipova over here. Plus those particular mixed bills look terrific! Edited February 5, 2015 by Sunrise 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Thank you Toursenlair, Aileen, Janet, Alison, Sunrise for your input. I have been to NY before, but I had not realised the Bayadere is the same as ROH, plus I saw it last spring in NY. I think that No1 looks like the best bet - I agree it offers a great range of ballets and dancers to see in one go, albeit none of the guest stars (can't have my cake and eat it!). Good point Aileen I had not realised Smirnova has been injured. She was a no show at the 21st Century Etoiles in Paris as well so I would hate to book and then she didn't turn up. I would have loved to join Toursenlair (great looking programme and extras!) but the dates are not good for me as I need to go a few days earlier :-( Ok that gives me something to work on! Thank you all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeylakes Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 If I was a rich man I would be in NYC on Tuesday, June 9 Paloma Herrera will give her farewell performance as Princess Aurora in Alexei Ratmansky’s The Sleeping Beauty. and if I was an even richer man I would stay till June 20 when Julie Kent will dance her final performance with ABT as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. If I win the lottery I will be there. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 If it was me I'd be programme No. 1 all the way. You will get a much broader selection of both ABT and NYCB principals - and other dancers - with those programmes listed - and certainly much greater variety in the choreography. As much as I love Ashton - and I do - I much prefer Balanchine's La Valse to his ... so much more dramatic in keeping with the music .... whereas I prefer Ashton's Dream to Balanchine's in terms of the story telling/character development. That said Balanchine's second act PDD is truly glorious in that. So many choices .. but it would definitely be Option One for me. Maybe you'll get Sara Mearns or Tyler Peck in La Sylphide. I'd imagine that would be devoutely to be wished .... Let's pray that put that - with the wonderful Bournonville Diverts a la the one and only Stanley Williams - in the Paris programme. Would that you could have both Rodeos - the De Mille AND the new Peck which has just had fine reviews - even with the sudden injury of one of the two principal dancers taken into consideration. How I would LOVE to see it. All I can say is - YOU ARE ONE LUCKY LADY, DonQFan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Yes, in your place it would programme 1 for me too. Fancy Free, Rodeo, Lilac Garden....all things we only get to see when the American companies visit! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Thank you lakeylakes, Bruce and Sim. No1 has won hands down I believe! I would love to see the farewells especially as Roberto Bolle partners Herrera! And Julie Kent I have a soft spot for as I met her stage door in Berlin in 2014 she's so nice! Sadly the farewells are later in the run...can't do it all. I totally agree that No1 will give greater variety and chance to see many dancers. It's a no brainer, I was letting star dancers cloud my judgement but No1 let's me see dancers not usually in Europe too.Thanks again so much. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Enjoy....and we look forward to reading your impressions! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Williams Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Agreed, No. 1 all the way, if only for 'Symp.in C' (can't recollect if I've even seen either 'Walpurgis Nacht'' or 'Sonatine, but even so...) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeylakes Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Whoa, I did not know Bolle was partnering Herrera . Time to cash in the pension I think. Did you know this DVD (its region 1 USA) is available. Paloma Herrera: Here & Now - Abt Prima Ballerina [DVD] [2011] [Region 1] [uS Import] [NTSC] 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Thank you Ann, Sim and Lakeylakes Oh yes Bolle is on the casting for that performance and Julie Kent's farewell R&J too:-) I'll look up the DVD thank you but my player doesn't like region 1:-( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toursenlair Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Walpurgisnacht Ballet is fab. A beautiful Balanchine ballet in his more classical vein (in Juliet style dresses rather than tutus) and becomes more thrilling as the music (from Gounod's Faust) becomes more dramatic. If you get to see Sara Mearns in the lead role, she is to die for. I remember the first time I saw it, I had seen it listed on the program, thought "never heard of that, wonder if it's any good" and was almost squealing with delight by the time it ended. "I want to see it AGAIN!!!!" I said to the person I was with. And have seen it twice since and am hoping to see it in May. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Wow sounds great! Sara is a good dancer for sure and I also like Ashley Bouder....so many dancers at NYCB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul N Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Here's an interesting and fairly recently posted performance of Symphony in C. Says early 1970s, which means good camera work as well as great dancing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wIQyNW1zOc Quite a few more interesting videos uploaded by that user too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Here's an interesting and fairly recently posted performance of Symphony in C. Says early 1970s, which means good camera work as well as great dancing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wIQyNW1zOc Quite a few more interesting videos uploaded by that user too.... Thanks SO for this. It is WONDERFUL .. So glorious to see the first movement with all the detail for the female principal so carefully etched which sadly was not the case when the RB last did it ... and the devilish fourth movement so clearly completed. THANKS VERY MUCH INDEED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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