Haglund revisited the Shostakovich Trilogy last night where Joseph Gorak made an early debut in Symphony #9 subbing for an injured Herman Cornejo. Gorak was on the calendar to dance the role for the first time on Friday. He gave an inspired performance that was a different interpretation than Cornejo's or Jared Matthews’ brilliant performances during the last run of this ballet, but it was also wonderfully valid. His character brought an unwavering optimism and soothing light to the stage where the other members of the community were dancing (surviving) in the shadows of Stalin’s oppression. The sheer beauty of his dancing and the pristine quality of his technique suggested that the community’s persistence would yield an idyllic outcome. Of course, history had other plans.
Making her principal role debut opposite Marcelo Gomes, Devon Teuscher acquitted herself extremely well. Along with a glistening technique that serves her so strongly in Ashton roles and will someday make her a commanding Odette/Odile, Devon exuded a coolness and beauty that was a throwback to the days Christine Dunham and even farther back to the days of Toni Lander. We’re toying with the idea of taking another look on Saturday night anticipating that her second performance will take more dramatic liberties, but there is that beckoning Serenade across the Plaza...
Stella Abrera and Craig Salstein revived and refreshed their secondary roles as dangerous instigators who encouraged the community to do things contrary to the regime’s will. The community corps (with a sprinkling of soloists) danced with a new conviction and clarity that were missing during previous seasons of the ballet.
Chamber Symphony (James Whiteside, Sarah Lane, Isabella Boylston, Hee Seo) missed the tragic, dramatic voice of David Hallberg of seasons passed. Every time Whiteside showed anguish we were prepared for him to next pull a stupid joke. His broadly public lack of seriousness and maturity have taken their toll on the audience’s perception of his onstage artistry.
Chamber's corps de ballet was untidy in places, and it was very noticeable how unflattering the costumes were on some of the un-lithe dancers.
However, the corps de ballet in Piano Concerto #1 made up for everything. Wow, did this group have it together last night! Zhong-Jing Fang, April Giangeruso, Melanie Hamrick, Courtney Lavine, Lauren Post, Katherine Williams, Alexei Agoudine, Gray Davis, Kenneth Easter, Daniel Mantei, Patrick Ogle and Jose Sebastian collectively gave a giant of a performance. Sleek in their unitards that were gray in the front and maroon on the flipside, speedy, perfectly in tune with one another, the dancers revealed the architecture of this ballet better than we have ever seen. At times it was hard to take our eyes off of them in order to watch the principals.
Christine Shevchenko, subbing for Gillian Murphy just as she had to do several years ago in her debut, showed new confidence and core strength and made the partnering by Cory Stearns a fairly easy assignment. His dancing looked uncharacteristically energetic and happy with very little stress. His very nice double tours coming down the diagonal were literally leaning on the diagonal. The other couple, Maria Kochetkova and Daniil Simkin, treated their choreography like they were doing a bit in some competition gala. Acting baby cute doesn't cut it with a lot of the audience. We don't care to see that again; so, it looks like we've made our Saturday night decision.
The HH Pump Bump Award, a Louboutin with strong gray design and red sole, goes to the ladies in the corps of Piano Concerto #1. Zhong-Jing Fang, April Giangeruso, Melanie Hamrick, Courtney Lavine, Lauren Post, and Katherine Williams rocked!
Where is David Hallberg? He's gone MIA.
Posted by: missy | May 18, 2016 at 12:46 PM
Craig Salstein really surprised me with how well he did this last night. Such clarity. And agree that Gorak did a great job. I had trouble concentrating on it because I kept having my eyes drawn to Cass Trenary. I kept thinking, YES! That's the right dynamic for the hands in that sequence! That's the right velocity for the turn... why doesn't everyone do it that way?
Posted by: Andrew Blackmore-Dobbyn | May 18, 2016 at 12:49 PM
Is it true, Cornejo is injured? I wonder if he will be able to continue with his schedule. I was planning to buy a ticket to his and Lane's Sleeping Beauty.
Posted by: melponeme_k | May 18, 2016 at 01:29 PM
It was announced at curtain that he was being replaced due to an injury. He has some problems that he continually deals with. With Gorak clearly ready to dance the role, they might have decided to withdraw Herman as a precautionary measure.
Posted by: Haglund | May 18, 2016 at 01:33 PM
I observed the dress rehearsal for this performance yesterday. Cornejo rehearsed the piece in the afternoon. Marked a few of the sections but mostly danced full out. I suspect it was a precautionary measure.
Like you, I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the costuming in Piano Concerto #1. You were spot on in your comments about the corps' strength in this piece.
Posted by: Jennifer | May 18, 2016 at 06:26 PM
Good to hear that Cornejo was rehearsing yesterday.
Yes, that PC#1 corps was something else. It was so good to see those ladies tearing up the stage, especially Hamrick and Lavine who we need to see much more of -- soon.
Posted by: Haglund | May 18, 2016 at 06:52 PM
Christine Dunham! Toni Lander! HH, you are killing me!
Posted by: Gstavella | May 18, 2016 at 08:53 PM
I was awed by Gorak’s bravura performance last night. There were moments during the ballet when I wasn’t even sure it was him. I’m truly enjoying the Ratmansky triple bills this week, most especially because it offers the chance to see the entire company, performing as an ensemble, in the kinds of roles we rarely get to see them perform. All that talent, and on display for once! By the way, Cornejo was back at work today for the matinee performance, dancing beautifully with Lane in Seven Sonatas. Actually, all six dancers in Seven Sonatas looked great, including Blaine Hoven, who looked so good with Veronika Part that I began daydreaming about seeing the two of them together in Swan Lake. Would love to see this kind of daydream become reality!
Posted by: LLF | May 18, 2016 at 08:55 PM
LLF - I agree about Blaine. He's been on the backburner for a long time while doing superb work in everything. His predicament is almost the male version of Abrera. He is one who truly suffered for opportunities while McKenzie dragged in every worthless guest artist he could find.
Posted by: Haglund | May 18, 2016 at 09:02 PM
Gstavella, old Haglund has a lot of rings around his trunk. 😏
Posted by: Haglund | May 18, 2016 at 09:33 PM
Thank you, Haglund, for this wonderful review. I wish I could have read it before attending the dress rehearsal yesterday, as it would have made the works more meaningful to me. However, I was astonished at the fabulous dancing all across the ranks. I've been watching Christine Shevchenko for a number of years and singled her out as someone to watch. And Cory Stearns was a whole new Cory in the studio rehearsal a month ago. No longer a boy, but now a man, acting as well as dancing in the rehearsal with Gillian of Fille, and doing powerful, soaring jumps and multiple turns landing on a dime, all with the most beautiful line and gorgeous face. Stearns and Bolle, you can't take your eyes off them for a minute this season.
Posted by: Angelica Smith | May 18, 2016 at 10:27 PM
Angelica, we'll just have to wait and see what new develops in Stearns. His schedule is certainly lighter than in years past which may be very helpful to him.
Bolle has been around ABT for 9 years now. At 40 years old, he is not only the oldest male (so-called) principal, but he seems to be the one most determined to preserve the flexibility required for ballet. I'm surprised that his dedication to his flexibility regime has not influenced more men at ABT. True, he hit the genetic lottery, but he obviously has not been taking anything for granted.
Posted by: Haglund | May 19, 2016 at 07:52 AM
Thank you, Haglund. I really appreciate this wonderful review! I'll be seeing the Trilogy Friday night for the first time and I'm really looking forward to it. I also chose this program to see Veronika Part, and because Saturday night I'll be watching Serenade at NYCB.
Posted by: Marta | May 19, 2016 at 10:11 AM
Yes, where is David Hallberg? Injured? Burned out? Did he retire quietly? It doesn't seem like he's dancing on any continent.
Posted by: DRW | May 20, 2016 at 09:09 AM
Don't know exactly.
Posted by: Haglund | May 20, 2016 at 09:11 AM
I saw ShosTril last night and I soooo agree with H; mostly a WOW! In #9, LaTeusch is lovely. Beautiful with Gomes. And Craig Salstein (minus his mini-Eros costume) was great. Very exciting to watch. Has anyone ever commented on how musical he is? Reminds me (lets throw some names around) of how Patti McBride used to 'play' with the music. Nice job Craigy! Herman was in last night. Still flying all over the place and landing impossibly in 5th every time. Yeah, I love me some James Whiteside, but I gotta agree with H on this one too. Someone needs a little gravitas to grow as an artist. And in #1, after I stopped crying that Gillian was still out, I enjoyed it. Shevchenko was charming. But who knew that Cory became (or maybe I missed it before) such a good partner?? Someone wants to be Marcello when he grows up? And ok H, you can stop reading now...... I liked Simkin and Kolatchnikova. Fun to watch. Nice contrast to Chrisy and Cory. Like their bratty little kid sister and brother. oxox And PS HA! H, Gstavella has a couple rings his self too. ;-)
Posted by: Gstavella | May 22, 2016 at 09:08 AM
True, Gstavella, "LaTeusch" has lovely lines and clearly knows how to make restraint beautiful.
Posted by: Haglund | May 23, 2016 at 10:11 AM