It's a busy day on the blog!
Thanks much to Carol for forwarding several links to us including one of Paris Opera Ballet's transmission of Balanchine's Le Palais de Cristal, the forerunner of Symphony in C, with gorgeous new costumes (rubies red, emeralds green, sapphire navy, and creamy) by Christian Lacroix. Millepied's Daphne et Chloe is on the bill, too. The transmission will be available for viewing until December 5th at FranceTV CultureBox:
http://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/live/danse/le-palais-de-cristal-par-georges-balanchine-157321
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Graham Spicer's Gramilano is a good, credible blog source for information about what is going on in European ballet circles. Haglund doesn't visit as often as he should but he's glad that Carol thought to send us the link to Graham's post about Angel Corella calling it quits in Spain and moving on. It would be great if he would move into 890 Broadway but only if the current AD moved out.
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And just as Haglund was ready to hit the publish button, this startling announcement came through the wire. Veronika Part will dance the title role of Giselle opposite Vitali Krauchenka this weekend in Ballet L'Etoile's production in Columbia, Maryland which is just outside of Baltimore. The staging is by Svetlana Kravtsova and Vadim Pijicov. This could be a once in a lifetime opportunity; so, if you can get there, go!
WHAT?????
Re the last point: I am hyperventilating.
Posted by: nanushka | June 09, 2014 at 04:58 PM
Wow! about Part and Krauchenka in Giselle!
Posted by: J | June 09, 2014 at 05:50 PM
So sad about Angel's quitting. I have always felt that he left ABT too soon to pursue his Spanish dream. What a pity that things did not go well for him there, and what a pity for us here!...
Posted by: Irina | June 09, 2014 at 06:29 PM
Irina, I totally agree with you, but it's no secret that he was pushed out by McKenzie. Angel's performances were cut and cut in favor of bringing in worthless guest artists until he was down to a schedule on which no dancer could survive financially or maintain top physical/dancing condition. The same was done with Dvorovenko. It was incredibly sad and frustrating for the faithful core audience to watch happen.
Posted by: Haglund | June 09, 2014 at 07:10 PM
Wow!!!! What a treat for the Baltimore audiences to witness! Yes it is sad that a lovely principal dancer such as Veronika must go elsewhere to dance the title role in "Giselle". I've seen her as Myrta and of course she was perfection, but she will surely be a gorgeous and vivacious Giselle. Her Act II will be spectacular.
The POB Le Palais de Cristal is breathtaking. The costumes are gorgeous and of course those beautiful POB dancers are always a joy to watch. I'm looking forward to hearing your reviews of Cinderella!
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 09, 2014 at 09:26 PM
Thank you Haglund' for clarifying Angel's situation for me. I have always naively thought that Angel left on his own terms; if what you describe is true, then it is a crime against ABT. Angel wrote the brightest pages in the history of this company, and AD's treatment of one if his most brilliant dancers is unforgivable.
Posted by: Irina | June 10, 2014 at 07:40 AM
I agree, Irina, but Angel has enormous and broad talents in all the directions that ballet now needs. Wherever he lands will bring new hope to all of us who love the art form.
Posted by: Haglund | June 10, 2014 at 07:46 AM