ABT – La Bayadere Saturday 5/22

At about 6:30 Saturday night, Haglund said to himself, "Aw heck.  Let's go watch this train wreck unfold."  The best thing that can be said about a train wreck is that somebody usually survives – unless, of course, both the engine and the caboose fall over the side of the trestle bridge dragging all the cars between them into the water.  Haglund knew that a lot of Haglund'eelers would be visiting the blog and would expect an explicit eyewitness account.  So, he quickly scrubbed up, packed a couple of Band-Aids, and returned to the theater for the second La Bayadere of the day.

 

Well, Folks, Haglund has to report that the train made it safely across the bridge.  In fact, it started out with some pretty good steam which it gradually lost, but not until all the cars were safely to the other side.  We are talking, of course, about Cory Stearns' debut as Solor opposite Veronika Part's Nikiya and Michele Wiles' Gamzatti.  Stearns, who was substituting for the injured Roberto Bolle, was originally scheduled to debut opposite Gillian Murphy this coming Monday. 

Stearns' first entrance onto the stage Saturday evening was forceful and authoritative as were his first several minutes of mime.  Then Ms. Part entered and the two began what was a pretty good PdD.  She was secure; his hands were accurate; and there seemed to be some eye contact between them.  Haglund thought we might be witnessing a breakout performance from Stearns.  Then slowly as the variations unfolded, we were reminded that Mr. Stearns doesn't have principal-level elevation, flexibility in the back, a 90 degree arabesque, or much acting ability.  He was decidedly improved in the problem area of pedestrianizing the choreography, but his performance was overall anemic.  He has to find something at which he is truly outstanding in order to counterbalance those areas which may always be inferior.

 

Ms. Part and Ms. Wiles repeated their spectacular performances from Wednesday night.  The contrast of their characters was vivid.  Their dancing, strong and nuanced, was 100% devoted to advancing their characters.  Both were very, very, very good.

 

Many of the ladies in the corps shone brightly in demi-solos and ensemble work.  Tonight especially, Melanie Hamrick and Leann Underwood were outstanding as the D'Jampe Dancers.  Isadora Loyola is one of the most expressive dancers in the corps with beautifully articulate and arched feet.  Gemma Bond is looking radiant.

 

Haglund has intentionally avoided discussing the Bronze Idol situation all week because it is such a difficult one to assess.  Not until everyone who ever saw Angel Corella and Herman Cornejo in this role dies will audiences be able to happily accept anything less than their electrifying, super-punctuated performances.  Haglund saw Daniil Simkin, Craig Salstein, Mikhail Ilyn, and Carlos Lopez dance the role this week.  Lopez came closest to finding the Corella/Cornejo magic with Salstein close behind.  Simkin, for all the beautiful work he has done thus far while with ABT, was unable to wrap his incredible technique around this role which requires speed and braking at phenomenal rates.  Simkin occasionally summoned the intensity required, but the segue movements lingered balletically thus destroying the concept of the dancing idol.  All of these guys have to try harder and smarter to equal or come close to what Corella and Cornejo gave us.

La Bayadere is still one of Haglund's most favorite ballets even after a chaotic week of substitutions.  He is extremely saddened by the injury and withdrawal of Stella Abrera from this week's performances.  However, he experienced a little epiphany during tonight's performance: The Big Buddha of La Bayadere decided a few years ago that he would intervene in any effort to have Stella dance Gamzatti because he had decreed that she must now dance Nikiya.  When next La Bayadere is on the schedule, let's not mess with the Buddha's wishes.

Haglund awards this passionate red satin and feather Pump Bump Award to Ms. Part and Ms Wiles for their stunning performances this week:

 

Comments

[K]

Don't keep us in suspense - how were Julie and Jose at the matinee??

So glad to here Veronika is looking gorgeous as ever. I hope Stella makes it back for the season - poor thing.

[Haglund's Heel]

Hi "K".

Julie and Jose gave a well-balanced performance but neither is in peak performance shape as of last Wednesday. Haglund kept thinking that Jose needs to get several more performances in before Natalia Osipova hurls herself at him like a torpedo on steroids during their Don Quixote - but he's not on the schedule again until the Don Q. Julie was a little shaky during her Act I solos and her hands trembled a bit as she fought for balances during the Scene 3 solo when Nikiya is commanded to dance before Solor and Gamzatti. Her jumps were rather low, though pretty, and made Haglund wonder whether she has become one of those dancers who always leaves class early before the big jumps. Hope not. But some classwork is definitely in order there.

Hee Seo was more like Gamzatti – the kitten to Julie's mama – cat during their Act I confrontation. Jose's Solor was quite conflicted throughout and clearly wanted both the mama cat AND the kitten - but Haglund will not delve into that further.

Haglund keeps forgetting to mention Roman Zhurbin's awesome High Brahmin performances. The guy's grip on the audience when he stands alone on stage is powerful, to say the least. His scenes opposite Gennadi Saveliev's Radjah (Wed. mat.) were quite theatrical and made Haglund think that there could be more to their story.

Love La Bayadere. Love it. Love it. Love it.

- Haglund