Haglund pulled a double shift at the Met today, as did his anti-friend Alastair.
In the lobby entrance at this evening’s performance, the dreaded sign was posted prominently which clearly stated that Herman Cornejo was injured and could not dance. While on a post-performance excursion at the Whole Foods salad bar, Haglund heard from a complete stranger that Herman was going to have knee surgery. Here’s hoping that’s not the case, but if it is, we know that it will work out fine and that Herman has a large supportive group of people who will work hard to ensure that it does.
At today’s matinee, there was a sign as well which stated that Max Beloserkovsky was injured and could not dance. This is another tragic loss so early in the season. The new production of La Sylphide seems in jeopardy because of these two injuries.
But this week also included an important comeback worth noting. After a very long absence, Julio Bragado-Young stepped back onto the Met stage with big strong legs and an incredibly happy face. He danced in Theme and Variations at today’s matinee and looked outstanding. Welcome back Julio!
With Herman out, it fell to David Hallberg to come to the rescue of Xiomara Reyes and the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux this evening. And oh, oh, oh, what a rescue it was. Haglund was so enthralled with the rapport and nuances between these dancers that he began to hallucinate and see scenery on the stage: a little cottage with a dead pheasant hanging on the door, a bench with a daisy, and all of a sudden Xiomara was wearing blue instead of pink. Here was a partner for Hallberg who did not equal or surpass him in brute strength and force. Instead, she flirted around him like a cute little pixie, and his response was wonder and warmth and delight. Haglund hopes that we get to see this partnership grow and that in the unfortunate event that Herman cannot dance the Saturday matinee Giselle, Hallberg will get the nod.
Poor Xiomara, she really deserved a purple heart after enduring the matinee Allegro Brillante with Daniil Simkin. There is just nothing that makes that partnership appealing. Reyes was a good sport throughout the piece, and to his credit, Daniil didn’t flub anything badly. But he’s very laid back, and has a singular expression that quite frankly is not believable. He looks young enough to be Reyes’ son.
There were some highlights to the performance, however. Apprentice Joseph Gorak came charging out of the ABT II incubator this season and was a real head turner today. Sharp, jumps like a deer, gorgeous feet, likeable face. As in performances earlier this week, Eric Tamm made it worth keeping a keen eye on the corps, too.
The evening Allegro Brilliante just underscored the fact that Cory Stearns should not be dancing in these pieces and that the ABT women principals should not be subjected to him. Here’s Haglund’s assessment of Stearns:
Height A+
Looks A-
Pirouettes B+
Beats C-
Elevation C
Arabesque D
Partnering B
Acting C-
Tonight’s partnering with Paloma Herrera wasn’t a disaster, but it sure was a mismatch. She was the glowing ballerina; he was some kind of Sigma Chi frat boy who wasn’t trying too terribly hard to make an impression. Why, pray tell, is his arabesque so low?
The matinee Tchai PdD was danced by Misty Copeland and Jared Matthews. It was serviceable, but lacked the delicacy, nuance and elegance that mark the other current ABT interpretations. Copeland applied such force to a series of turns that she very nearly landed on her fanny. Haglund’s anti-friend will probably applaud that in his review next week.
Mozartiana was more interesting at the Matinee, but more entertaining in the evening. Veronika Part and Blaine Hoven (substituting for Beloserkovsky) performed at the Matinee. Veronika’s performance seemed to have more energy than her first two this week. She made more of an effort to complete her pirouettes and vary the mood throughout the piece. Blaine did very, very well, and Haglund was surprised by the sunny confidence that Blaine displayed. He tried numerous times to engage Veronika with a smile or a kind look, but she just would have nothing to do with him. Haglund would not describe her as “being a pill” but close to it.
Nina Ananiashvili’s and Angel Corella’s evening Mozartiana was pure play and fun. This is a piece that Nina could dance until she’s seventy. But let’s hope not. She really applied herself to the music and to the amusing concept of the ballet. While Angel is now the ultimate partner for Nina, this ballet did not play to his strengths. His lines were a little muddy now and then.
Both programs concluded with Theme and Variations. Stearns and Yuriko Kajiya performed at the matinee. Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes performed in the evening. Kajiya embellished the steps with her signature musicality and beautiful phrasing. Murphy was blazing speed, blazing pirouettes, blazing everything – but pretty as well. Stearns was exactly as described above. Gomes was perfection once again. He was firing all pistons tonight and gave an intense and crowd-pleasing performance.
Haglund has had enough of these all-Balanchine programs. Bring on those pirates!
For the tickling surprise and sheer enjoyment of their Tchai PdD, Haglund awards Xiomara and David this Pump Bump:
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