observations 12-7

The Aussies are generating some excitement and rightly getting credit for David Hallberg's return to the stage next week after his 2+ year absence due to injury. He debuts in Coppelia with The Australian Ballet at the beautiful Sydney Opera House on December 13th with subsequent performances on the 16th, 19th, and 21st.

Here is a picture of Hallberg by Australian photographer Nic Walker which reflects what Two-A-Day 2-hour strength training sessions have created. True, the shadowy lighting helps, but he certainly looks more fit than we can remember seeing him. According to this article in the Canberra Times, Hallberg has been running stairs, too. (We require video.)

We're looking forward to seeing Hallberg's "new normal" after his slow-simmer recovery in the idyllic South Pacific while working with such awesome coaches as David McAllister, Fiona Tonkin, Steven Heathcoate, and TAB rehab team headed by Sue Mayes. You may recall that Fiona helped create Stella Abrera's Giselle a couple of years ago. Hopefully, someone somewhere in the world will do the ballet universe a favor and finally put these two together for a performance of the greatest ballet ever made.

Let's hope Hallberg keeps up with those Two-A-Days for years to come.

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Gelsey Kirkland Ballet opens its run of 12 performances of The Nutcracker tomorrow night at her Arts Center in Dumbo. New last year, the production conceived by Michael Chernov and Gelsey is loaded with charm, creativity, and some of the most classically-respectful dancing in the city.

The theater is generally easy to get to: the F-train stops at the top of the hill (York St stop) and then it's a short walk down to the arts center. It's right next door to the Brooklyn Roasting Company where you'll find excellent brew blended by some of Brooklyn's famously cool & confident coffee hipsters.

Get your tickets here for performances December 8 through December 18th.

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Francis Patrelle's The Yorkville Nutcracker opens this weekend, too, at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College with guest artists Abi Stafford and Adrian Danchig-Waring. Don't miss this inventive, long-admired production which is set in Old New York with a collection of characters who really ran this city back in the day.

Performances are December 8th through December 11th. Tickets available here.

The Yorkville Nutcracker Christmas Eve takes place in Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side, the official residence of our city's mayor. If you've never seen Gracie Mansion, here's an artistic rendering that you might not want to miss:

This year's New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is a fantastic G-scale layout that winds through New York's famous architecture created with all natural materials such as sticks, leaves, seeds, and acorns from the garden.

See the Statue of Liberty, Gracie Mansion (pictured right - click to enlarge), Rockefeller Center, Brooklyn Bridge, National Arts Club, Yankee Stadium, Immigration Station, Grand Central, Macy's, NY Public Library, Chrysler Building among 150 NYC landmarks all created in miniature with these wonderful natural materials. It's pure genius.

You need to get tickets in advance. Haglund recommends joining the NYBG so that you can get in free and enjoy everything that this fantastic garden offers. The MetroNorth train stops across the street from the NYBG gate.

Here's a 7-second clip of the action that awaits you at the Holiday Train Show in The Bronx:

We can't imagine that you weren't mesmerized by that clip. If it didn't grab you, however, how about this not-so-little crab cake resting atop a medallion of guacamole with dabs of exotic mustard. Note the berry mojito closely guarding the plate. All of this is available at the Hudson Garden Grill at NYBG which is within the Ross Conifer Arboretum just a two-minute walk to or from the Train Show. Reservations recommended:

 

 

 

Comments

[VM]

Hi Haglund. did you see this interview with David Hallberg? https://australianballet.com.au/behind-ballet/david-hallberg-the-second-act

[Haglund]

Thank you, VM. Early reports are that the first Coppelia performance with Amber went well. He's in such a positive environment. I hope that he manages to make it a second home.