Haglund's Heel

Jared & Yuriko in Swan Lake Act III – not here

On March 23rd, Jared Matthews and Yuriko Kajiya will perform Act III of Swan Lake with the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet at the Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center, an 800 seat, $8,000,000 state of the art venue in Jackson.  Haglund wishes he could go, but flights are too expensive.  Once again this year, it is a crime that ABT is not allowing these two glorious dancers (and Stella Abrera) more meaningful opportunities to dance during the Met Season, especially when they are far more suited to the great Petipa roles, so many of which have been sorely miscast. This year ABT will continue with its effort to sell short, thick arms as the latest, greatest thing to come to its Swan Lake's Odette.

In other news, it appears that Boston Ballet will have an engagement at the Koch Theater during the 2013-2014 season.  Frankly, the asinine and juvenile behavior of the company's "star" who jumped to ABT last year is enough to completely turn off any interest in the company except for the chance to perhaps see Erica Cornejo dance again – in something not in the vein of Jorma Elo.

Reminder:  Lincoln Center Festival will announce its 2013 season around March 27th.

 

UIEX - new ABT dancer

Thanks to the Haglund'eeler who noticed in this blog review of Boston Ballet's Don Q that the writer reported that principal James Whiteside will leave Boston Ballet at the end of the season to join ABT in some capacity.  He should definitely rethink the move.

It sounds like McKenzie has so lost his credibility and the respect of the company that he's going to have to go out and replace every last dancer.  

At what point does the board remove the CEO because he's lost the confidence of the employees as well as the ability to manage and develop the talent within?  How low does ABT's stock have to go before the board will act?

 

Boston Ballet – Erica Cornejo as Giselle

On October 1st Boston Ballet opened its season at its new home, the Boston Opera House, with Maina Gielgud's production of Giselle.  Erica Cornejo danced the title role, and  Nelson Madrigal was her Albrecht.  Keith Powers of the Boston Herald wrote:

Erica Cornejo danced the title role on opening night, infusing the fragile and luckless Giselle with an otherworldly air. It’s a role fit for a star. Cornejo is just that.

In Act One she’s the impatient object of affection, ready to burst out of her mother’s cautious arms and dance for joy. In Act Two she’s a gossamer ghost, reaching out from the grave to protect her suitor. Either way, Cornejo danced with the grace, virtuosity and halting awkwardness the role demanded.

The Boston Phoenix has an extensive photo spread by Eric Antoniou that includes the two photos below.  Mr. Antoniou seems quite the dance photographer judging from his Giselle photos and his collection from the Ballets Russes at the Wang.  Check them out!

 

 

 

Erica Cornejo and Nelson Madrigal in Act I
Photo by Eric Antoniou.

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

  Erica Cornejo in Act II
  Photo by Eric Antoniou.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So why wasn't Alastair in Boston covering this?  What, and miss an opportunity to see a full 15 minutes of Mark Morris at Fall for Dance and a modern dance concert at St. Mark's Church?  You must be kidding.