ABT – Celebration of Alicia Alonso – 6/3

She's mythical – Alicia Alonso, that is.  Really, no human could have floated above the stage or fanned the high-speed, travelling entrechat quatres in Giselle the way Alicia did.  But then, last night, there she was standing center stage in full human form, nearly 90 years strong, acknowledging the cheers and gratitude of the adoring crowd.  The crowd, by the way, was saturated with eyewitnesses to Alicia's miracles of the past century.  People not often seen at the Met were drawn there last night to express their thanks to Alicia Alonso.  Haglund was a bit shocked to see a man with his folded metal walker at a standing room post.  But that's the draw of Alicia.  And when she stood on stage and looked out, her huge soulful eyes reached for the poorest patrons at the back of the Family Circle.  She couldn't see them, but she felt them, and she - more than anyone else in the world - understands how ballet can enrich poor lives. 

 

It was a terrific evening which began with a film short of an interview with Alicia which was interspersed with performance filmclips.  Her final message, put forth as an imperative question, was that we should devote our time to celebrating the beauty and our love for dance instead of fighting with one another.  Alicia Alonso - perhaps the world's greatest living cultural diplomat.

 

The evening's performance of Don Quixote began with Paloma Herrera and Marcelo Gomes as Kitri and Basilio.  Act II would be danced by Xiomara Reyes and Herman Cornejo, and Act III by Natalia Osipova and Jose Manuel Carreno.  Haglund was expecting each couple to infuse a full evening's energy into their assigned Act, but that only happened in Act II.  Act I fell a little flat as Paloma and Marcelo carefully worked through the choreography. Though they dance together frequently, Haglund doesn't recall ever seeing them paired in Don Quixote . Paloma seemed a bit fatigued.  However, Marcelo seemed inspired to dance Basilio and you could just see him "turning the wheels" in his mind as he went along to create his character and engage the rest of the performers.  When he took Flower Girls Yuriko Kajiya and Misty Copeland for their spin, he was phenomenal - as were the ladies.

 

Act II was the strongest of the three acts.  Herman and Xiomara gave what amounted to a royal performance.   Herman was at his best last night and when he stoked a variation right after Daniil Simkin's own miraculous minute as the Gypsy, it became apparent that Herman's intensity, speed, and dancing at the edge are what Daniil should strive to emulate.  Xiomara was the perfect Kitri.  Beautiful hops on pointe.  Superb acting in the "death" scene.  Perfectly coordinated with Herman in the partnering. 

 

Act III brought out Natalia and Jose for the Wedding PdD.  It was all very good without being delicious - better than diner food but something less than the oysters and red snapper at Le Bernardin.  Blunt bravura is Natalia's dish more than classical.  The line of her arabesque, the shape of the foot (especially the left foot, the arch of which last night seemed to be enhanced with padding), the line of the head with the port de bras just didn't add up to magic.  But Natalia's jumping was superb and her turns at top speed.  Haglund immensely enjoyed watching Natalia carve out the fouettes with great form. 

Clearly a special evening for Jose – he delivered terrific pirouettes and a much better jump than Tuesday night.  Haglund is going to try to make most of Jose's performances for the rest of the season as he is starting to get back into shape and may peak around Swan Lake Week.  You know, there are 40 year old women who are training, competing in and winning marathons.  We need to band together to encourage Jose (and Julie Kent, also ) to kick up the endurance and cross training a notch.  They both have a lot of great performances left in them that we all would like to see.

 

Espada and Mercedes/Dryad Queen were superbly danced by Jared Matthews and Veronika Part.  Though not a perfect physical match, they made it work very well.  Jared, honestly, what is going on there?!  He's going crazy with great performances - each one better than the last.  Last night's variation was fantastic and had the audience murmuring, "Where did he come from?!"   Veronika was a sexy, sizzling Mercedes who teased the Toreadors with her temps de fleche and bourreed around their spears stuck in the floor while seductively swishing her skirt and flashing her dark eyes.  She really brought the panting out in the audience.

 

Last night was a memorable evening – we've already had several during the first three weeks of the season – and Haglund hopes that the folks who were filming from the front box of the Grand Tier will share that video with us sooner than later. 

Of course, the Haglund's Heel Medal of Honor goes to Alicia Alonso for a lifetime of magical performances and a lifetime of creating magical performers at her academy:

Thank you, Alicia.

Comments

[Dumas Pineda]

I saw Alicia Alonso dancing II act of Swan Lake, At Willsire Theater,in Beverly Hills abot three decades, but before that I always admire her.

She is one or the best clasique ballerina at all time

[Haglund's Heel]

Hi Dumas! Thanks for visiting Haglund's Heel.

What a wonderful memory you have of Alicia! You are so lucky to have seen her perform.

- Haglund