Daniil Simkin and Yuriko Kajiya may be the most youthful Basilio and Kitri who ever spun across The Met stage. Today, before an already-adoring crowd, they debuted in Don Quixote; the performance also marked their debuts as leads in a full length production on the mammoth Met stage. It felt a little like the commencement ceremonies going on simultaneously over in Avery Fisher Hall - big steps, big accomplishments, big opportunities on the horizon, and proud looks from the audience and especially from their colleagues on the stage. And there's even a historical recording of the performance. A Japanese camera crew was working from the front Grand Tier Box.
Basilio and Kitri had a few musical uncertainties in the first part of Act 1; sometimes the music ended before the dancers were finished. But overall, their presentation had all the requisite technical candy and more, and was a highly polished performance. The two overhead lifts in Act I were flawless with Simkin executing them as smooth, single moves and seemingly freeing the left arm even before Kajiya was all the way up in the air. Time and time again, he let loose with pirouettes that just would not end. Kajiya's Act I Kitri variation was packed with stabbing pointes, neatly folded pas de chat, and loads of charisma. Their strongest elements all came together in Act III with a stunning Wedding PdD, even though they still looked too young to get married. Kajiya rotated her fouettes en dehors which was pretty spectacular to see.
Stella Abrera and Jared Matthews were a smoldering, sophisticated Mercedes and Espada. Haglund has about run out of words to describe Abrera's artistry. Without fail, every time she returns from a period of injury, she somehow comes back having progressed to a new level of achievement. Today in Act II as Queen of the Dryads, she looked like the prima of all primas - absolutely glorious. Expansive leaps; soft, exquisite port de bras; Italian fouettes where each looked like a Xerox copy of the one before it. Matthews was a hot, dashing Espada - all excellently danced, but that glimmer of Bocca that Haglund saw last year has faded. Specifically, the legs went up very authoritatively but then gravity brought them down instead of Espada pulling them down. It's a very small complaint about a terrific, sizzling performance. Haglund hopes we're not too far away from seeing an Albrecht from him.
Gemma Bond, as Amour, overcame some initial nerves to give an outstanding performance. Haglund can't recall ever seeing her as Amour; so, if this was a debut, it was pretty impressive.
Like the Flower Girls Tuesday night, Renata Pavam and Simone Messmer, had some problems synchronizing jumps but their variations were solid. Misty Copeland was a sultry Gypsy; her solo full of energy and sass. Arron Scott's Gypsy was too refined and too focused on preparations. There was none of the fierceness and intensity that we saw in Joe Phillips' Gypsy the night before.
The Toreadors have had problems two performances in a row. Today, turns failed, musical cues were missed, and jumps were wimpy. They really need to pull it together.
Nevertheless, today's performance was made memorable by the debuts of Simkin and Kajiya. The leopard cub print Pump Bump Award with red bow goes to them:
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