ABT – Airs, La Sylphide – 6/15

After an exhilarating and exhausting week of Giselles, ABT opened the second half of its Met season with a program that included Paul Taylor’s Airs and Bournonville’s La Sylphide.

The dancers took to Airs like ducks to water. Versatility is a trademark of today’s ABT dancer, and Kristi Boone, Misty Copeland, Nicola Curry, Anne Milewski, Blaine Hoven, Arron Scott and Isaac Stappas curved, flowed and spiraled their ways through the choreography like a breeze. The second cast to be seen Tuesday evening includes Sean Stewart who was on Scotsman duty the first night. To watch Stewart dance is to observe the epitome of versatility. Haglund looks forward to the performance. 

La Sylphide hasn’t been seen for quite a while here, and it was nice to see it back, although it might have seemed a bit light, content- and story-wise, coming on the heels of Giselle. The scenery and costumes by Desmond Heeley are gorgeous. The choreography originally staged by Eric Bruhn was danced brilliantly by Herman Cornejo (James), Natalia Osipova (La Sylphide, replacing an injured Xiomara Reyes), Daniil Simkin (Gurn), Gemma Bond (Effie) and Nancy Raffa as Madge, the Witch. The Witch won - in the story and in terms of performances.

Raffa’s Madge stirred up one heck of a brew last night bringing this story to full life. Briefly, James’s marital plans with Effie are interrupted by the Sylphide who takes a liking to James and steals the wedding ring that he is about to give to Effie. Only James can see Sylphide, with whom he is now obsessed, and so, when he is observed by Gurn and others chasing her around, it appears to them that James has gone bonkers. Gurn wants Effie for himself, and Madge makes it happen by sending James off to chase Sylphide with a poisoned scarf .  He catches her, wraps the scarf around her, her wings fall off, and she dies.

Osipova’s Sylphide was Supersprite, flying over the scene in a single bound sprinkling her mischief everywhere. She was charming and childish with wickedly fast feet. Unfortunately, Haglund went to the ABT Gala where he got a glimpse of Xiomara Reyes dancing an excerpt from Act II, and he spent last evening frequently wondering what it all will look like with her in the lead. Reyes will be the ultimate Sylphide, and Haglund hopes that we get to see her at the Saturday matinee.

Cornejo’s James delivered incredible batterie with entrechat quatres and seises opening and closing his eschappes, compass-drawn ronde jambes en l’air, and a whole lot of turning brise-this and brise-that stuff that was spectacular in speed and clarity. Never has Haglund enjoyed looking under a man’s skirt so much. Cornejo was just phenomenal. However, like his Albrecht, his James character was sketchy and needs to be more theatrically animated and engaged.

Simkin’s Gurn was terrific in terms of characterization but the Bournonville technique was not exactly a walk in the park for the wunderkind. He was quite good in his variations, but he had to make a big effort.

Gemma Bond was a cute and convincing Effie. The corps men and women were superb last night. Isabella Boylston stepped out briefly in Act II and was delicate and charming. Haglund thought he spotted Melissa Thomas among the Sylphides even though she was not listed in the cast. It was very nice to see her back in the lineup.

 A winged Pump Bump Award for an enjoyable evening:

 

 

Copyright © 2009

 

Comments

[jose]

Was Melissa injured?Another missing corp member is T Forster who was very well received ( w/ Melissa) in Jardin au Lilas last fall.
Great review as usual.

[Haglund]

Thanks, Jose.

Don't know what Melissa's circumstances are, but she's definitely been missing. Maybe Haglund's eyes were deceiving him, but he thought he saw Melissa Monday night in La Sylphide. And yes, you are so right, Tom Forster has been missing as well.

[jose]

You're right,she is back. She's in the 3rd cast of Airs.