The David H. Koch building/ “Symphony in C”, “Play Time”, “Solo” and “Love letter”(on Shuffle)/ Tuesday October 11th, 2022.
Welcome back friends!
Yay!
Welcome this week, to four dazzling, truly entertaining ballets, from various eras, with incredibly sparkling, joyful, and particularly original, and fashion designed costumes, for the last three more recent ballets, danced beautifully by the NYCB: a repeat program from the recent, 2022 Fashion Gala, with a few cast changes.
Wow!
In addition, last Tuesday evening, the NYCB audience/patrons was/were also wearing über chic outfits for many, which made for fun people watching.
Yay!
1)”Symphony in C” choreographed by George Balanchine, is a true gem, a classic, mid 20th century piece, which premiered at the NYCB in 1948, on beautiful music, composed by 19th century, French composer extraordinaire, Georges Bizet (1838–1875).
Yay!
And visually, the NYCB ballerinas’ tutus glittered even more than usual, last Tuesday, thanks to additional Swarovski sparkles, added to the costumes.
Wow!
So between the elegant, controlled, imperial, iconic choreography of Balanchine, the gorgeous Bizet music, and the classic NYCB Marc Happel tutus and leotards, which allow to admire dancers legs while performing, “Symphony in C” is a favorite of mine.
Yay!
And I must say, I was especially moved by the second movement of the symphony, the Adagio, beautifully performed, with verve and grace, by Unity Phelan and Alec Knight.
Yay!
Let’s now take a look at an excerpt, let’s watch the Adagio, danced with gusto, a few years ago, by Allegra Kent, so you can get a visual and musical idea, of what I am describing.
Enjoy!
What incredible technique! And the music, the music, the music, ladies and gentlemen: it is just magical.
Just stunning.
2) “Play Time” is a new, NYCB commission, choreographed by 23 year old Gianna Reisen, her third work for the NYCB, which premiered at the recent 2022 Fall Fashion Gala.
Wow!
Set to the wonderful 2022 “Villanelle for times” music, a free jazz, lively and high spirited score, by Grammy-award winning singer, song writer and visual artist, 36 year old, Solange Knowles, (and her first score for a ballet), this lively music, inspired indeed, a playful and joyful choreography.
Yay!
Of course, the costumes enhanced as well “Play Time”‘ fun and exuberance, which the audience immediately responded to, by applauding with great enthusiasm, to the unusual “tableau” presented, as the curtain opened.
Yay!
The square, broad shouldered, sparkly, Swarovski glittering costumes, very 80’s like, (think inspired by French designer Claude Montana’ broad shouldered style), by fashion designer Alejandro Gómez Palomo for Palomo Spain, with wonderfully colorful and vibrant choices, probably to build up extra visual drama, especially when all ten NYCB dancers, performed as a small group together.
Wow!
What unexpected awesome dancing delight, and real eye candy “Play Time” proves to be.
Yay!
How wonderfully fun to watch, even if the “geometric” shaped costumes, made it probably, a little challenging for all of the performers to move with as much ease, as freely, and with all the speed, the NYCB is famed for.
Wow!
Yay!
Yet, on Tuesday evening, the soulful and talented Principal dancer, Sara Mearns, is the artist who graced us with her talent, to perform this piece (instead of Huxley), with wonderful soul searching expression.
Yay!
And Mearns performed “Solo”, in the same distinctive and striking costume, designed by Raf Simons (an oversized male blazer like costume), worn also originally, by Huxley.
Wow!
The audience loved the piece of course, filled with introspective steps and melancholy.
Yay!
So quiet and moving.
Here is a link to Barber’s beautiful, sad and brooding “Adagio for strings”:
Enjoy!
So somber, yet so gorgeous.
Yay!
4) The last piece performed last Tuesday, “Love letter (on shuffle)”, choreographed by 45 year old, Kyle Abraham, is Abraham’s fourth work for the NYCB, which premiered as well, at the recent 2022 Fashion Gala, and set to beautiful and sorrowful music, by electronics/ hip-hop/soul/ trip-hop/balladry/ uk bass, pop artist, 34 year old English artist, James Blake, with intriguing, unusual, and imaginative costumes by fashion designer, Giles Deacon.
Wow!
And what a real treat this work is.
To me, it represents a “mix”/”mishmash” of classic ballet and street dance.
Yay! yay! yay!
Dance is ever evolving and that is great!
Yay!
And like many, I am delighted, when current NYCB choreographers, choose not only modern and fun costumes, but also, music of our times, to present their new works.
Yay!
And the music, and soulful vocals, almost overpowered the work, that is how incredibly moving and poetic it was, and it seemed to me, that this beautiful electronic/uk bass type of score, also inspired the dancers to soar to even greater heights.
Yay!
And a few dancers grabbed my attention: Jonathan Fahoury’s explosive and swaying wave like, street dancing style, was mesmerizing, as was, the vibrant and dazzling Tiler Peck, who always seems to have extra fun, on modern pieces, as were Fahoury and Harrison Ball, in their expressive and meditative synchronized adagio.
Wow!
Just fabulous.
So, to sum up my feelings, about “Classic NYCB II” program, admired last Tuesday, at the David H. Koch building, in great company: what extraordinary, diverse, beautiful, quintessential NYCB choreographies, from the 20th and 21st century, on an array of superb classical, jazz and pop music.
Just awe-inspiring.
Not to be missed!
Yay!
And wow! wow! wow!
Until next time friends!
Soft…
Fluttering…
Sunny…
Joyful…
Happy…
Loving…
Eternal butterflies 😊