Tiler Peck's fabled Allegro Brillante was on display last night at NYCB. She and Roman Mejia gave a pristine and glorious performance. No complaints about Mejia’s lines last night. His arabesques were stretched to the limit and surprisingly turned-out. Tiler’s own arabesques were subdued with many achieved via an overly opened hip, but that was a minor quibble in a performance that was filled with brilliant articulation, thrilling speed, and a generosity that conveyed that she was out there for us, not herself. Wow wow wow.
The corps was fantastic. The women (Meaghan Dutton-O'Hara, Ashley Hod, Olivia MacKinnon, Emma Von Enck) were exceptionally in sync while moving at open-throttle speed. We must remark that if we don’t see Emma Von Enck as Aurora in Sleeping Beauty this season, we will be extremely disappointed. If she is relegated to Bluebird or Canary, we just won’t go because the injustice would be too great. It’s quite possible that we in New York have never, ever seen a dancer who is more suited to the role of Aurora, and it would be an absolute travesty if we had to wait until this Sleeping Beauty cycles around in a few years to see her in the role. The corpsmen last evening were tops as well. My goodness, the cabrioles derrière by Christopher Grant were of such beauty and length that they took our eyes away from the principals.
Christopher Wheeldon’s now 20-year-old Liturgy reveals the genesis of many of his later oft-repeated ideas: flag-like arms, draped bodies on the floor, acrobatic coupling, dragging the women around. It’s of historical interest but we’re grateful that Wheeldon’s work has grown more substantive as the years passed and has developed in the area of storytelling as in his extraordinary ballet, The Winter’s Tale. However, we wouldn’t mind seeing his early Mercurial Manoeuvres pop up on NYCB’s calendar more often. Unity Phelan and Chun Wai Chan performed the Liturgy pas de deux with precision and maximum extensions. Both looked handsome in the costumes by Holly Hynes.
Walpurgisnacht Ballet was a mood lifter after the dark seriousness of Liturgy. It’s a hairy ballet, that’s for sure. Two dozen women flying around at top speed in their fushia-crimson-viva magenta gauze with animated hair dancing its own choreography was quite the lovely sight. Emilie Gerrity, in her debut of this principal role, milked the music for all its worth. She didn’t bang out the choreography but rather served it up with clarity, authority, and warmth in a very pleasing interpretation. Tyler Angle was her capable partner. Erica Periera shimmered in her solo.
Firebird has become 5-alarms since Isabella LaFreniere took over the role last year. Good heavens, what an extraordinary and beautiful performance she delivered last night. Okay, the mammoth Chagall scenery helped. A lot. But LaFreniere, besides looking positively stunning in Karinska’s tutu, was resplendent with pure academics and intelligent musicality. The accelerating circle of saut de chat that finished with a gargantuan leap to exit the stage was breathtaking. When she later arrived on stage and began her bourree solo, lawlessness broke out in the audience. iPhone cameras lit up everywhere. Someone even engaged the flash to catch her image. Yeah, the Chagalls helped, but LaFreniere was simply spectacular. Hers is not a performance that anyone should miss.
Jared Angle served as Prince Ivan and Megan LeCrone gave a lovely, unusually warm and very open performance as the Prince’s Bride. Gilbert Bolden III’s Kastchei was fantastic as well.
Our H.H. Pump Bump Award, hot wings with sauce, is bestowed upon Isabella LaFreniere, a blazing talent, for her performance as the Firebird.
I really missed seeing Sara Mearns in Walpurgisnacht. For me that has been one of her best roles. I know Emilie Gerrity was just filling in for her, maybe had limited rehearsal time,etc, and though her performance was fine, she was no Mearns (or Reichlen for that matter), at least not yet.Maybe later. For me the star of that work tonight was Erica Pereira. I also enjoyed Claire von Enck (and Baily Jones). I think both von Enck sisters are terrific and would like to see more of them.
Posted by: Allie Kenney | January 21, 2023 at 11:21 PM
True that Gerrity is no Mearns. Farrell was no Kirkland. Nichols was no Farrell. Verdy was no Kent. Martins was no d'Amboise. d'Amboise was no Villella. I thought Emilie's dancing was stunningly beautiful tonight.
I totally agree about Erica Pereira. Her casting this first week has been perfect.
Overall, another fantastic performance tonight, and this afternoon as well.
Posted by: Haglund | January 21, 2023 at 11:29 PM
Went to this program last night and absolutely loved it. I was lucky to be in the Third Ring seemingly surrounded by real ballet lovers. Lots of bravos, lots of interesting conversations during intermissions, and lots of beautiful ballet.
Posted by: Zachary | January 22, 2023 at 02:26 PM
I have been very excited about some of the talent coming up. But yesterday made me more aware that it sometimes takes more than raw talent and enthusiasm -- like maybe a couple years' experience -- to produce some of the most memorable performances.
Posted by: Allie Kenney | January 22, 2023 at 04:05 PM