The David H. Koch building: “Continuum”, “Each in their own time”, “Distant cries” and “Concerto DSCH” Tuesday May 19th, 2026.
Welcome back friends!
Yay!
Welcome this week, once again, to the Performing Arts, and to the dazzling world of classical ballet.
Yay!
Welcome to 4 vastly different, classical, yet contemporary short ballets: 2 of which (the first and the last ballets), which I especially liked, for their imaginative qualities, from 2 choreographers I especially admire: from 2002, by Christopher Wheeldon, his “Continuum”, and from 2008, I am thinking of Alexei Ratmansky’s “Concerto DSCH”.
Yay!
And I was a little less taken or enthusiastic, about Lar Lubovitch’s “Each in their own time” from 2021, or by Edwaard Liang “Distant Cries”, from 2005, which did not seem quite as interesting, original, unusual, or emotionally relevant, to me at least.
That’s ok.
They were still beautifully performed.
Yay!
1) “Continuum” choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, is set to extremely modern, early 20th century, abstract, dissonant, almost sterile music to me, by iconic Romanian composer, Gyorgy Ligeti, because, again, to me, at least, it is almost devoid of emotional overtones, and too atonal.
That’s ok.
Yet, despite this hurdle, or unusual musical choice, the simplicity and the beauty of the choreography evoking a post-apocalyptic world, was haunting and breathtaking, and worked beautifully, as well, with the barebones costumes: green leotards worn by the men, and green swimsuits like costumes for the women, evoking interestingly, lush and warm and hazy jungles, to me at least.
Yay!
And I was particularly blown away by the imaginative qualities of Wheeldon’s movements, which to my mind, conjured up a futuristic world, which materialized out of thin air, where humans have been replaced by robots, and only insects, and wild life (think also of traveling/running long legged giraffes) had survived.
Wow. How fun, and also of course, a little unsettling too.
But what a feat, to unleash and allow our imagination to soar so easily, thanks to the unusual gestures and movements seamlessly imagined by Wheeldon, beautifully performed by the NYCB, especially for the women, by Alexa Maxwell, India Bradley, and as well, for the men, especially by Chun Wai Chan and KJ Takahashi.
Bravo!
2)”Each in their own time” choreographed by Lar Lubovich, is a simpler “pas de deux” story of 2 youngsters, falling for each other.
Yay!
Set to beautiful German 19th century music, by Johannes Brahms, his 8 piano pieces Op 76, performed with great soul, and exquisitely on the piano, by Hanna Hyunjung Kim, this more classical piece was very poetically danced, by both extremely talented and elegantly dressed, NYCB principal dancers, Adrian Danchig-Waring and Taylor Stanley.
Yay and bravo!
3)”Distant cries” choreographed by Edwaard Liang is another “pas de deux” love story, set to much older music, from the 17th century, by Italian composer, Tomaso Albinoni.
Yay!
Beautifully performed once again, by Alexa Maxwell, and also, by relative new comer, the gorgeous, Ryan Tomash.
Yay!
Yet, I was a tad disappointed by the fact that Ryan was performing bare chested, as it took away from his great technique, and the choreography, but that’s ok. The piece was still delightful to watch, and I was equally swayed, as well, by the gorgeous, baroque, 17th century, Venetian sounding music, which was also truly enchanting, and whose harpsichord sounds, evoked immediately, Mozartian times.
Yay!
4) “Concerto DSCH” choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, from 2008, and his second choreography for the NYCB, is set to cascading, filled with optimism, and at times, especially for the “pas de deux”, soulful and truly hypnotic melodies, from the early 20th century, his impressive and Romantic Piano concerto No.2 in F major, Op. 102, from iconic Russian composer, Dmitry Shostakovich.
Yay!
Beautifully performed again by Hanna Hyunjung Kim on the piano, the dancers seemed to enjoy themselves immensely, and at times, we were reminded of Gene Kelly-like musicals, in the dancing.
Yay!
And Joseph Gordon, and David Gabriel, in the men section, were especially impressive in terms of poetry, energy, and joy, as were, for the women, principal dancers, Unity Phelan and Emma von Enck.
Yay!
So, to sum up my feelings, about “Contemporary Choreography III”, admired last Tuesday, in great company, what beautiful, classical ballet pieces choreographed by Wheeldon, Lubovich, Liang and Ratmansky, to pay homage to great composers of their dazzling art form, and entertain their audiences, once again, especially well and thoroughly, through wonderful imaginative movement, costumes, and always, spectacular, sunny performers.
Yay!
Just awe-inspiring.
Not to be missed!
Until next time friends…
Soft…
Fluttering…
Sunny…
Joyful…
Happy…
Loving…
Eternal butterflies…