The David H. Koch building/ “Divertimento No. 15, “Scotch Symphony”, and “La Sonnambula”/ Wednesday September 21st, 2022.
Welcome back friends!
Yay!
Welcome back to our new, awesome, and rich, upcoming 2022-2023 NYC cultural season!
Yay! yay! yay!
And to propel us into our season, what better program than wonderful NYCB dancing, on three exciting, and diverse classical pieces, set each, to superb and romantic music, by equally exciting composers: Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Rieti (after themes by Bellini), and choreographed in the 1940 and 50’s, by the great and iconic Balanchine, who served the NYCB as Ballet Master, from 1948 to 1983.
Wow!
1) Let’s start with “Divertimento No.15”:
Choreographed by Balanchine in 1956, for a Mozart Festival held in Stanford Connecticut, Mr B. decided to name this academic piece, after the music, by Mozart, which he considered one of the finest “divertimento” ever written, to pay homage to the composer.
Wow!
To me, it is very typical of the beautiful, sleek, simple, timeless, elegant, orderly, and abstract choreographies, Balanchine is renowned for, and absolutely delightful, and yet, reminiscent of what I imagine, 18th century dancing could also look like.
The exquisite and spectacular Karinska, conventional and sparkling “tutu” costumes, added also to the collective imagination, and the audience was mesmerized from the very start, by this historical early dancing atmosphere, admiring with gusto and high anticipation, the dancers’ technique and unique personalities.
Yay!
And the entire NYCB company was in fine form, and high spirits for this Divertimento No.15, and their dancing was as always, precise, personal, fast paced, and particularly musical.
Yay!
And three dancers particularly stood out for me: I particularly enjoyed the extra cheekiness displayed by Isabella La Freniere, which I thought gave extra freshness, fun, and relatability, to her nevertheless beautiful and elegant dancing, in the first variation of this “divertimento”.
Yay!
And Davide Riccardo and Aaron Sanz were both brimming with energy, pizzazz and great flare, and were as well, wonderful to watch.
2)”Scotch Symphony” the second piece of the evening, was choreographed four years earlier than “Divertimento No.15”, by Balanchine, in 1952, for a summer Edinburgh Festival.
Wow!
And one can tell, how impressed Balanchine was, with the beauty of Scottish Highlands and Scottish regiments, and the historical 19th century/ Walter Scott-like engaging atmosphere, he encountered there.
Yay!
Therefore, Balanchine’s “Scotch Symphony” ballet, was set to wonderfully lavishly lyrical, early romantic, and epic 19th century music by Mendelssohn, and evokes immediately as well, iconic and treasured romantic 19th century ballets, about doomed love, such as “la Sylphide” or “Giselle”, in which a young couple (who meet in Scotland for the first ballet, or near the Rhine, for the second) is about to marry, when an unexpected turn of events, and an unusual ending in both ballets (including supernatural beings) takes place.
Oh boy!
And wow! wow! wow!
And Sterling Hyltin, last Wednesday evening, was the NYCB principal who particularly caught my attention, in this glorious Balanchine “Scotch Symphony” ballet.
Unbelievably, Hyltin is on the cusp of bidding farewell to her audience (she will be sorely missed by many, myself included, as she is my current favorite NYCB principal, even though other upcoming and more seasoned principals are also wonderful, Sterling Hyltin, in addition to perfect technique, has a unique sparkling beauty, gracefulness and easy charm, that makes her incredibly appealing. And to all you Hyltin fans out there, keep in mind that she will give her farewell performance, on December 4th, 2022, dancing the iconic Sugarplum Fairy role, from “The Nutcracker”).
Wow!
So Hyltin, last Wednesday evening, in “Scotch Symphony”,(again, with costumes by the iconic Karinska), gave as always, a particularly poised, nimble, and stylish performance, and won, yet again, the admiration of long serving, as well as brand new fans.
Wow! wow! wow!
3) Finally, “La Sonnambula” (initially called “Night Shadow”), was an early NYCB choreography (1946) by Balanchine, and is by far, one of my favorite pieces by Balanchine.
That’s right.
Yay! yay! yay!
Moody, mysterious, romantic, and highly emotional, staged in both public or more intimate settings, the various possible interpretations of the story, give it gravitas and staying power, and unleashes our soaring imaginations.
Yay! yay! yay!
Picture a poet and a “coquette”, who meet at a ball, in a gorgeous castle, where many guests and “guest stars”, all dance beautifully.
Yay!
In the castle, suddenly, an alluring, gorgeous, and phantom-like sleepwalker appears (symbolically), to the audience first, and then (in person), to the bewildered, fascinated, and love struck poet, and a string of unexpected and unclear situations suddenly arise, which eventually, all end tragically.
Oh boy!
And wow! wow! wow!
And Harrison Ball, as the poet, was fabulous as always. An attentive partner, filled with boyish charm, and terrific moves. Cainan Weber, as the electric and joyful Harlequin, dazzled the audience with his incredible athleticism. And of course, the most impressive character and dancer of “La Sonnambula”, was the “Sleepwalker” herself, danced with wonderful grace and emotion, by the stunning, phantom-like, and dramatic principal, the brilliant, Unity Phelan.
Yay!
Admire my favorite excerpt of this ballet, danced beautifully a few years ago, by Baryshnikov and Ferri, and pay attention as well, to the highly romantic music by Rieti, after themes by Bellini.
Just gorgeous.
So, to sum up my feelings, about “All Balanchine I” program, admired last Wednesday, at the David H. Koch building, in great company: what extraordinary, rich, beautiful, quintessential Balanchine choreographies, on an array of superb music.
Just grand.
Not to be missed!
Yay!
And wow! wow! wow!
Bravo NYCB!
So awesome!
Until next time friends!
Soft…
Fluttering…
Sunny…
Joyful…
Happy…
Loving…
Eternal butterflies 😊