Comments on: LET’S HAVE AN “ELOQUENTLY VIOLENT” MAYERLING FOR ABT, MR. MCKENZIE

By: SwanLakeSambaGirl

SwanLakeSambaGirl — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:06:29 +0000

Thanks for your input you guys! I'm glad I'm not the only one who wants a Mayerling here. Jose — isn't it weird how much of a disconnect there is between the critics and the public here? It seems everything the critics hate audiences love and vice versa. Practically everything audiences went wild for at Fall For Dance the critics hated and two of the ballets ABT just premiered that it seems audiences loved critics panned. I would not want to be an artistic director right now.

Matthew — I really can't understand why McKenzie won't take this one on either. Especially since ABT has so many outstanding male leads. Unless he thinks it's too dark?… But you're right, Manon is dark as well. And ABT did Othello not long ago. I love the fact it's based on a true story too.

By: SwanLakeSambaGirl

SwanLakeSambaGirl — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:06:29 +0000

By: jose

jose — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:46:07 +0000

American audience will probably love it if well staged and cast but the”critics” will hate it(as all Macmillan ballets).It also has several good roles for ballerinas.

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:29:17 +0000

Yes, Marcelo Gomes for Prince Rudolf! Hopefully McKenzie will listen. Thanks for the shout outs!

By: matthewrusk

matthewrusk — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:13:25 +0000

I've often wondered why Mayerling does not get the same recognition that one of Macmillan's other ballets, Manon, gets. I think everything about Mayerling is brilliant: the jaw-droppingly difficult pas de deuxs, the fact that the male gets the lead for a change, and the usage of several dancers in prominent parts, and the great Lizst score arranged by John Lanchbery. I also like the fact that it is based on a true story, something not of the norm in dance, particularly ballet. I had watched the 1994 video of the Royal Ballet with Irek Mukhamedov as Rudolph and loved it, but when I first saw it live with Edward Watson as the lead in 2007, it was like I had never watched the ballet before. Seeing it live was unbelievable; a complete difference from watching it on TV, the latter of which was satisfactory in itself.