ABT presented the final installment of its All-Classic
Program Friday night.
Balanchine's Allegro Brillante was performed by Xiomara Reyes
(substituting for Irina Dvorovenko) and Max Beloserkovsky. Gosh darn, if they
weren't a cute pair. Maybe it's her size, maybe it's her twinkling eyes, maybe
it's her infectious smile – but Reyes brings out warm qualities in her partners
that we don't see when other ballerinas dance with them. We saw it last year
when she danced the Tchaikovsky PdD with Hallberg; we saw it when she guided
Herman Cornejo through his first two Albrechts; we saw it earlier this season
when she danced in Lady of the Camellias opposite Jared Matthews; and we saw it
again last night when she danced with Max in Allegro Brillante. She inspires
their confidence. She inspires them to fully enjoy every minute that they are
on stage. Match her up with any man in the company, and you'll get a bigger
performance from him. Don't miss Xiomara Reyes with Herman Cornejo in Romeo and
Juliet this Wednesday.
Reyes dispatched the steps of Allegro Brillante with
confidence and authority. Haglund loved seeing her have the opportunity to pump
a couple of fine triple pirouettes and finish them with a look to the Grand Tier that
said, Wasn't that good? Well, yes it was, thank you. Max had no
trouble at all with the fiendish allegro and it was nice to see him in such good
shape and dancing so strongly.
Tudor's Romeo and Juliet Farewell PdD was performed by
Gillian Murphy and David Hallberg. It was okay, but is not a piece that would
draw Haglund to the theater to see more of it. He would rather see many of the
other brilliant Tudor works instead - most notably Dark Elegies and Lilac
Garden.
Ashton's Thais PdD, the gift of the season, received
another glorious performance in the hands of Maria Riccetto and Jared
Matthews. Her extended backbend over Jared's shoulders was quite a spectacular
sight. Jared's performances with Vishneva were captivating, but here with
Riccetto, he has a partner who compliments him wonderfully. Once again the
audience went bonkers at the end.
Diana Vishneva and Jose Manuel Carreno made a much better showing in the
Manon PdD than the other night. He is so freakin' hot that we just
have to find a way to keep that fire burning for a
couple of more seasons - maybe Manon with Vishneva will keep it stoked. We
shall keep our fingers crossed.
The final performance of The Dream with Julie Kent,
Marcelo Gomes and Carlos Lopez was truly enjoyable. Haglund thought that Lopez
did a fantastic job as Puck - second only to Cornejo. Isaac Stappas as Bottom
and Gray Davis, Roddy Doble, Luis Ribagorda, Arron Scott, and Sean Stewart as
the Rustics were hilarious whether in the foreground or the background. Kent
and Marcelo were wonderful, though not as vibrant as in their earlier
performance. A few more of the steps seem to be on the verge of leaving Kent's
technical range. There was a very funny Carol Burnett/Harvey Korman moment last
night when Kent's long hair got twirled-up in Gomes' crown. It took him a
moment to realize there was a problem and the reason why Julie was boureeing after
him. They both had to fight for their composure.
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