Unfortunately, Haglund had to miss the Wednesday matinee
of the new Lady of the Camellias with Vishneva, Gomes, Part, and Tamm. Couldn't
be helped. But he did make the evening performance of Dvorovenko, Stearns,
Abrera, and Hoven – and didn't come away feeling cheated at all.
Irina Dvorovenko was a fantastic Marguerite. Haglund's
only complaint is that her character was a little too robust. Tuesday evening Julie
Kent spelled her character's illness from one end of the stage to the other. For
Dvorovenko, it was a bit of a stretch for her to appear as though she was at
death's door. The sadness was in her face and body, but the illness was not
always apparent. She was kind of like Anna Netrebko's Violetta – drop dead
gorgeous, beautiful instrument, intensely motivated, but not very sickly. Both
ladies are a tremendous pleasure to witness in performance at the Met.
Cory Stearns gave it the old college try, but his Armand
was mostly invisible as were his arabesque, elevation,
flexibility, and stamina. He was visibly tired through most of acts II and III
- a lot more so than just Armand acting it. He looked pooped out when trying to
press Irina over his head. It can be said, however, that his Armand
was properly young, naive, and inexperienced to Irina's highly experienced
courtesan. He also conveyed a sense of vulnerability which went nicely with the
story. But the technique is not there and it is especially obvious when he has
to dance in unison with other men who've got it - like Blaine Hoven last night.
As someone raised the suggestion to Haglund recently, perhaps Mr. Stearns is
preferred for these opportunities over technically superior and much loved
principals because "the hand of an invisible benefactor [is] actively promoting
this aspiring young man." You gotta wonder why he wasn't Des Grieux and Hallberg wasn't Armand.
Stella Abrera as Manon was a revelation and pinpoint
perfect – technically and theatrically. Haglund has never seen her more
brilliant and secure. Her Act I Manon was the selfish "give me, gimme, gimme"
Manon we all know and love. Her Act II Manon showed her character beginning to unravel with illness, and Act III included a stunning and complicated solo
and a brilliant PdD with Blaine Hoven where her limbs dangled and her head
loosely fell around as though she was unconscious and on the verge of death.
Blaine picked her up like she was paper and he also expertly managed the PdT
with Stella and Irina. His own brief variation was flawless. Excellent work
from Blaine Wednesday night. And with regard to Stella - Haglund wants to see
her dance the lead in MacMillian's Manon and he wants to see it yesterday.
Capice? And throw in Mary Vetsera, if you get the drift.
It was a pleasure to see Joseph Gorak in some spotlighted
corps work. Now there's someone with elevation, flexibility, and an arabesque!
Melanie Hamrick had just the right amount of glow and glitz as Olympia, and
danced quite beautifully. Luciana Paris as Prudence hit a couple of rough
spots, but overall got the character down pat. Gennadi Saveliev seemed less
comfortable as Gaston Rieux than Jared Matthews on Tuesday who was so good that
he looked like he is ready to step into Bratfish's shoes in Mayerling. If we
wish for it, it will come.
Haglund had an unexpectedly joyful time at Lady of the
Camellias last night. The evening's Pump Bump Awards go to Stella and Blaine
for putting the icing on the cake:
Comments