I agree that Hallberg is more prince than warrior (although as always his dancing was still really beautiful). He seems rather composed even when distraught. I enjoyed Murphy quite a bit, in part because this is a very different role than any other I’ve seen her in and I found that interesting. I picture Part and Gomes being far more dramatic and natural for the roles than Hallberg and Murphy. I’d never seen Wiles dance before and my roommate and I thought she seemed overwhelmingly competent but rather inexpressive. It sounds like she was much better when you saw her on Monday though.

Oh and I forgot to say, also (at the risk of sounding like an embarassing fan-person) that reading your blog taught me it was worth the work of learning individual dancer names (even in the corps) and watching for them. It adds so much to the experience. So thanks for that too.

Meg, thanks for the explanation. Yeah, that’s the problem with some of these ballets. That was one of Lewis Segal’s criticisms in his infamous “Five Things I Hate About Ballet” article (from about 2 years ago now), and that was the one criticism I really could see his point on. I think they serve a purpose because, at least the way Marcelo danced it, they helped him out, letting him know when the King was coming back so Solor and Nikiya could end their little tryst before getting in trouble, etc. And they kind of act as a chorus foreshadowing the tragedy to come. I like the big jumps and all – -I think it thrills the audience at the beginning, gets the ballet off to an eventful start. Maybe it’s just a matter of dressing them differently, making them into magician / wise men types — because they really do look animalistic, and not to mention kind of goofy.

I agree that they do seem quite animalistic in the ballet (which I just saw for the first time tonight) but think that’s Orientalism at work there.

I know you guys, hopefully she will be promoted to principal. Still so ridiculous that she isn’t imo… But word is she’s definitely staying!

Oh and Jennifer, I don’t know what a fakir is — I always thought of them as little wild men, troll types. Or half animal, half human creatures that befriend Solor. But good question But I forgot to mention that Craig Salstein was excellent in the role of the lead one. Yeah, they could just make them into his friends?… But then that would take away from all that wild jumping about and leaping over that fire, which is really quite stunning…

Re: angel corella, it was not a “run-in” (“altercation), I just ran into him, and he was perfectly charming.

and re: wolcott, I had only just met him myself, via his wife, Laura Jacobs, who was on a panel with me a couple of weeks ago.

Plus, I didn’t introduce you, THEY rushed up to you, and looked at me for introduction, and when I said who you were they exclaimed, together, Oh, we thought that was you. so, you were the famous one.

See, Tonya, you really don’t need a human shield! you do perfectly well on yr own.

I had a funny run-in with Angel once too…he was carrying a heavy TV backstage at the NY State Theater (odd to see him there, not at the Met!)…

is Angel just easily found in funny situations?

I agree with you about MIchele Wiles – I’ve never seen her as a sunny cheerleader type. When I saw her as Myrta in Giselle, she fit that cold exterior very well.

Sounds like a great performance!! Wish I was there – I’ve been going through ballet withdrawal lately with the ending of SF Ballet’s season.