ABT's Swan Lake 6/29 mat & eve

Lakes have life cycles. Once a lake is formed by glacial, fault, or volcanic activity, it immediately begins to evolve through its life stages. The constantly changing balance of nutrients in the water affects which aquatic life thrives and which eventually succumbs to stress. And so it goes with ABT’s Swan Lake which has evolved through its 22 year run through constant, though not always careful management of its ecosystem. Years of replenishing with guest artists – an invasive species – proved fatal to parts of the natural habitat. 

 

Of late, though, we’ve seen some stirrings of new life in ABT’s old lake. Skylar Brandt, in an astonishing Odette/Odile debut Wednesday evening, revealed every classical detail with remarkable clarity. As the music cued the iconic moments, she delivered the anticipated phrasing, poses, and temperament of both Odette and Odile as carefully set on her by Irina Dvorovenko and Max Beloserkovsky. Like the daughter whose mother insists on a high level of social courtesy in everyday life but who won’t come to realize the full value of those manners until she matures, we can expect Skylar’s interpretation of Odette to deepen as she absorbs what Irina and Max have so generously given her. Meanwhile, we are simply blown away by the delightful trickery of her Odile — a swindling Harold Hill in black sparkly tutu. Smooth and seductive, balancing brilliantly on her outrageous lie, and spinning a story with fast-talking fouettes, this Odile had little trouble getting Siegfried's wallet, watch, and Social Security number.

 

Skylar is the Odette/Odile that Herman Cornejo should have had much earlier in his career. She is now at a technical level where he was a dozen years ago. But they still make for an awesome match and for that, we are grateful. From his entrance at the top of the staircase to his fatal leap into the lake, Herman’s intensity and energy raised the level of the entire cast’s performance. All of sudden, everyone on stage had extra spark and color. If this was Herman’s local sign-off of Siegfried, it was a darned good one. There is still plenty of juice left in his legs and he delivered the requisite turns and leaps, if not always at the level of his youth. We felt Siegfried's anguish and confusion. His Act IV relentless quest for Odette sunk our spirits which had been soaring since Act II because, well, we already knew how it would turn out even if he didn’t.

 

The Wednesday matinee cast of Christine Shevchenko and Calvin Royal III enjoyed similar highs. Here we had a very different Odette - an old soul through whom we felt the sorrows of past Odettes. She brought our breathing to a stop with her exquisitely beautiful port de bras and the lengthening of lines that seemed to be pulled even longer by the generous conducting of Charles Barker. The gentle curves in her arabesques and attitudes were emotionally exposing. As Odile, Shevchenko maybe wasn’t as soulless or conniving as other Odiles, but she drew a clear distinction from her Odette. There were partnering issues that marred moments such as the famous line of step-over pirouettes that ends with a dramatic attitude pose. Odile ended up on two feet on the other side of Siggy. But the lifts in Act IV were incredible and all but made us forget about any of the awkwardness that preceded them. 

 

This was Calvin Royal’s debut and at times he looked under pressure and his variations were under-powered. Given the fact that his second performance of Chaereas in Of Love And Rage was a spectacular improvement over the first one last week, we are confident that things will go much better for him at Monday’s matinee of Swan Lake. There was a sense of Calvin trying to figure out how Calvin fit into the character of Siegfried rather than simply adopting a theatrical characterization that has nothing to do with the performer’s own circumstances and empathies. Once on stage, it’s too late to be questioning what the character’s motivation is. But because the second performance of Chaereas was so strong, we don’t want to miss what might happen on July 4th.

 

The secondary principals, soloists and demis at the Wednesday performances were a mixed bag. Andrii Ishchuk’s conservative debut as Von Rothbard showed only a glimpse of what we can expect to come. He was hesitant to take the character over the top – which is an absolute must – but the dancing was quite fetching. In the evening, Gabe Stone Shayer chewed up the scenery rather successfully, we thought. It was our first time seeing a short-ish Von Rothbart; so it was kind of a shock. But somehow, Gabe made the character outlandish and cinematic, and it all worked well. 

 

Thank goodness in the evening we stumbled upon Breanne Granlund in the Pas de Trois who seems to be that rare woman at ABT who can manage entrechat-six. What is going on here? How does someone get into the corps of ABT (or get hired back!) without being able to do a few entrechat-six in a row? Granlund, Zimmi Coker, and Patrick Frenette delivered a very respectable PdT full of verve and style. Frenette’s Benno was expertly danced and we look forward to finally seeing much more of him in significant roles. He has such danseur noble potential that it has been almost heartbreaking to see him underused for so long. However, there are a couple of issues that need to be addressed. First and foremost are the odd quick-changing facial expressions that look calculated & unnatural and a proclivity for over-emphasizing details that one does in class in order to get the message into the muscles but shouldn’t do on stage. Then there is the overuse of make-up. Frenette is unfairly handsome and doesn’t need excessive rouge and eye shadow to make that any more clear than it is. Why is ABT’s make-up team trying to make him look clownish?

 

The swan corps de ballet at each performance appeared well-drilled. The Cygnettes did not disappoint. And oh do we love the new Tutor who strode into the village: Ruben Martin (formerly of SFB, now JKO). Big, big theater chops. Hope to see more of him. 

 

Our H.H. Pump Bump Award, a Louboutin crystal-embellished stiletto, is bestowed upon Skylar Brandt, Christine Shevchenko, and Irina Dvorovenko for packing such beauty and artistic integrity into ABT's Swan Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Solor]

I was at both performances and appreciated their high standard as well. However, I disagree about Calvin - I thought he brought a great deal of well-thought-out emotional depth to the character. I was moved by it.

[Allie Kenney]

Haglund:Sorry, off topic but I just noticed ABT has changed casting for T&V performances next week. I was really looking forward to seeing Shevchenko & Bell in it on the 7th. They have now been moved to the 8th, with Teuscher and Ahn performing the 7th (as well as on the 9th, Kevin McKenzie night). My first reaction was to try to switch, but then thought maybe there's a good reason for this -- doesn't look like anyone is injured. Do you have any thoughts on this?

[Haglund]

Wow. Thanks for the heads up. I assume that the shuffle has to do with Stearns not being able to make it back which means all the other casting in Zig-Zag and Single Eye has to be shuffled.

That said, I don't think that you can go wrong with Teuscher and Ahn in T&V.

I see that Camargo has picked up Stearns' performances in R&J.

[Allie Kenney]

Thanks, Haglund.

[Haglund]

Another terrific show today. Lively 4th of July crowd in the house.

Royal, Ishchuk and Sumatani (Benno) all had much stronger performances than last week's debuts. Would have to say that Ishchuk hit the ball out of the park with his second Von Rothbart. He was into it, so to speak.

Christine Shevchenko as Odette/Odile encountered no problems today. Her Odette was a heart breaker. We believed her and felt for her. Odile is 110% technically secure but the character is still a work in progress. Odile is not Myrta. Odile is evil whereas Myrta is wounded and acting out. Myrta's throw of the chin doesn't work for Odile who needs to sneer and spit.

What a tremendous asset to Act I Ruben Martin has become. His Wolfgang is the most lively tutor we've seen since Frederic Franklin. He's just terrific.

[Solor]

The company is getting lots of (new) young audience, apparently through social media advertising and discounting. It's become somewhat obvious with all the enthusiastic applause in places where it's not called for by the music. But it's encouraging.

[Haglund]

There seemed to be groups of ballet students who thought they were at YAGP finals, but that's okay. Better than having empty seats.

[Williams]

My pearl clutching dissolved into bemusement. It was really nice to once again experience that kind of frisson. We were in orchestra K and there was an adorable little group off to the side. God…to be that age again!

[Rachel Perez]

Haglund, attending the grand double header of redhead Swan Queens today. I had to double check at intermission of the matinee but sure enough those entresixes I saw were indeed those of Breanne Granlund (from your review). The whole pas de trois was wonderful this afternoon. Cate Hurlin's debut made me anxious for more!

[Haglund]

Great to hear. It seems like today might end up being the official Saturday of "out with one redhead O/O and in with another". Let's hope that Hurlin continues to develop classically in SL and all of her roles.

[Jennifer]

I also attended yesterday's double header of redhead Swan Queens. Loved both performances. In the evening, Jarod Curley impressed as purple Rothbart. His evil but charming grin and strong technique (nailed the arabesque balance) reminded me of the great Marcelo Gomes in this role.

[Haglund]

When I saw Curley earlier in the week as VR, I thought that he was a combination of Gomes and Ed Watson in full Crown Prince Rudolf mode -- too dangerous for me to sit close to the stage.

Thanks to the reader who noted yesterday that Bell & Shevchenko have been replaced in T&V. Herman and Skylar will run two consecutive laps on Friday & Sat Matinee.

[Jeannette]

Sorry to have missed “the Hurricane’s” O/O debut, which seems to have been a hit, by all accounts! 🥳 I’ll be on the lookout for a repeat, somewhere on tour or at the Met next year. Darn work got in the way this time. Grrr.

Curious about who’ll be dancing T&V on Sat night? Still Teuscher/Ahn, as on Thurs (tonight)? Whoever - looking forward to reports.

[Haglund]

At this moment, the T&V casting is Teuscher/Ahn, Brandt/Cornejo, Brandt/Cornejo, and Teuscher/Ahn.

[Eulalia Johnson]

Sad to say, I couldn't get to Hurlin's O/O debut but saw Shevchenko's O/O twice and Boylston's once. Both were thrilling in different ways. My spouse said Boylston's Odette keenly remembered she once was a human princess; Shevchenko's was wilder, her memories of having been human cloudier. In any event, their takes speak to the greatness of "Swan Lake" and the range of interpretation it supports. To paraphrase Haglund's memorable observation, it's dangerous to sit close to the stage when Curley's Purple Rothbart takes it over. I agree with Jennifer that Curley was Gomesian in the part--grateful praise! Of the Neapolitan dancers, I thought Klein and Pogossian were the best matched and most together: Bravura for days! How sad for us the season has but a week and half to go--it seems like it's just getting started!

[Haglund]

Thanks, Eulalia.

I, too, had to miss Hurlin's debut, but something tells me that she and Ahn will continue to make a good pair. They came into the corps at the same time and have the same ability to go for broke. I don't know what has happened to Ahn this season, but previously having seen his Ali and Albrecht I know that his preference is for risk-taking and for reaching for the next level. Hopefully, we will see that in T&V tonight!!! And SPEED!!!

[Rachel Perez]

The Hurlin O/O debut was indeed a treat. I was impressed how much character she had imbued each of Odette and Odile. Her Odette was cautious, like she had gotten her hopes up before and had them dashed. She'd make motions as though she was opening herself up to Sigfried only to recoil slightly as he took the previously invited step towards her. As Act II went along, her Odette relaxed and gave into the beautiful steps. Her extension is really beautiful and her port de bras is wonderful. Her Act IV Odette was one of the better I remember in recent history. She really showed her disappointment in Sigfried and her devastation at the thought of being doomed to her swan form forever.

Her Odile was slippery as a snake and there was such chemistry between she and Gabe Stone Shayer as he whispered his nefarious instructions into her ear. Odile had Sigfried eating out of the palm of her hand! She accomplished the 32 fouettes though not with the doubles and triples she added to her Kitri and she also was just a bit off the music (which is not unusual as we all know). The facial expressions and glances were not those of a novice.

I will seek out her O/O in the future for sure.

[Haglund]

Thanks much, Rachel. Sounds like we have another authentic O/O to treasure for years to come.