I took a kid to his first Nutcracker on Friday night. "Why don't the girls slip on the snow?" "How long do the toys have to stay in the big boxes before they come out to dance?" "Why is this champagne $14 for a half glass?" If you're 49 and going to your first Nutcracker, you've got questions that need answers. I did my best on the technical stuff, but on the moral issue of the champagne I opted to just pay for it myself.

This was the opening night of NYCB's Nutcracker, and it was magical! The excitement of the kids on stage was infectious. Perfectly rehearsed, and great little actors-- every one of them. The war between the mammoth rats and the tiny soldiers was easily worth the price of the ticket.

The kids who had classical dancing duties were exceptional as well. The expressions on their little faces when they heard the loud applause was priceless.

The dancing of the adults was of mixed quality. The corps looked good, and managed not to appear too frantic during all of the commotion of the Snowflakes and Flowers sections. Sofiane Sylve opted to attack the Dew Drop role to such an extent that it overshadowed any radiance. (I prefer Ansanelli's interpretation.) Maria Kowroski was gorgeous as Sugar Plum, and her pas with Charles Askegard was stunning. However, Askegard was dreadfully inattentive to pointing his feet or straightening his legs throughout his variation. It was very disappointing, and I was a little astonished to see that from anyone in the company, let alone a principal. Tom Gold as the lead Candy Cane was quite sensational. He jumped in and out of his candy striped hula hoop at an amazing speed, and as usual, dedicated his every step to the enjoyment of the audience. He's always been a very generous performer in that respect.

One clue as to the quality of the performance: When the house lights go up, and kids in the audience are mimicking the mice and chasse-ing up the aisles, you know something good happened that night.

<small>[ 28 November 2004, 07:41 AM: Message edited by: Poohtunia ]</small>

I am sad about Tewsley and Mandradjieff leaving NYCB. Tewsley, especially, is a big loss. His performance in "Musagete" burned an image in my mind's eye.

Greetings
Thanks for the Nutcracker review! As a reminder, we have a separate thread for all things NYCB Nutcracker related over in the Holiday Performances Forum.

Cheers
Kate

The casting is up for the first week of Winter 2005 Repertory. Robert Tewsley fans will be pleased to see that he is guesting with the company in two ballets.

JANUARY 4-9, 2005

TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4 AT 7:30PM
Divertimento No. 15: *FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, *BORREE, BOUDER, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS
Intermission
The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, J. STAFFORD, *RIGGINS, RAMASAR, TINSLEY, *ORZA, BOAL, *ANSANELLI, *HANNA, EVANS, REICHLEN [McDill]
Intermission
Cortège Hongrois: *SYLVE, ASKEGARD, ABERGEL, HANSON, RINGER, FAYETTE

WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5 AT 8:00PM
Ballo della Regina: *BOUDER, MILLEPIED, *HYLTIN, EDGE, *SCHELLER, *RIGGINS
Intermission
Stabat Mater: *RUTHERFORD, WEESE, BORREE, *J. ANGLE, MARTINS, BOAL [Burton, Walker]
Intermission
Cortège Hongrois: SYLVE, ASKEGARD, ABERGEL, HANSON, RINGER, FAYETTE

THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6 AT 8:00PM
Divertimento No. 15: FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, BORREE, BOUDER, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS
Intermission
Polyphonia: WHELAN, *WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, *MARCOVICI, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters]
Intermission
Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, *FOWLER, *LIANG, HANNA [Chelton]

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7 AT 8:00PM
Ballo della Regina: BOUDER, MILLEPIED, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS
Intermission
Stabat Mater: RUTHERFORD, WEESE, BORREE, J. ANGLE, MARTINS, BOAL [Burton, Walker]
Intermission
I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI

SATURDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 8 AT 2:00PM
Ballo della Regina: TBA, TBA, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS
Intermission
The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, J. STAFFORD, RIGGINS, RAMASAR, TINSLEY, ORZA, BOAL, ANSANELLI, HANNA, EVANS, REICHLEN [McDill]
Intermission
Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton]

SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8 AT 8:00PM
The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, *VEYETTE, *KEENAN, *HALL, HANSON, FOWLER, *SUOZZI, SYLVE, ASKEGARD, *la COUR, REICHLEN [McDill]
Intermission
Todo Buenos Aires: WHELAN, KISTLER, *BOCCA+, EVANS, NEAL, MARTINS, TEWSLEY+ [McDill]
Intermission
I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI

SUNDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 9 AT 3:00PM [Kaplow]
Square Dance: BORREE, HÜBBE
Intermission
Polyphonia: WHELAN, WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, MARCOVICI, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters]
Intermission
Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton]

For Immediate Release - December 21, 2004

ALL-NEW STAGING OF PETER MARTINS’ TODO BUENOS AIRES TO FEATURE GUEST ARTIST JULIO BOCCA

On Saturday, January 8, New York City Ballet will present the premiere of an all-new version of Peter Martins’ Todo Buenos Aires featuring guest artist Julio Bocca and set to a newly created score consisting of six tangos by Astor Piazzolla.

The original production of the ballet, which premiered on May 3, 2000, was set to two Piazzolla tangos, La Mufa and Todo Buenos Aires, which had been orchestrated by composer John Adams. For this expanded and re-choreographed version of the ballet, NYCB orchestra member Ron Wasserman has arranged six Piazzolla tangos, including La Mufa and Todo Buenos Aires, for chamber orchestra. The four other Piazzolla tangos that comprise the score for the ballet are: Patchouli, Escualo, Oblivion, and Michelangelo 70.

The original production of the ballet consisted of two pas de trois, created for Wendy Whelan, Albert Evans, and Philip Neal; and Darci Kistler, Nikolaj Hubbe and Robert Tewsley. In addition to Mr. Bocca, the new production of Todo Buenos Aires, will feature dancers Darci Kistler, Wendy Whelan, Albert Evans, Nilas Martins, Philip Neal, and guest artist Robert Tewsley. Although the exact origin of the tango is unclear, its history goes back to the late 1800s where working-class men gave birth to the tango in the barrios and bordellos of Buenos Aires. By the beginning of the 20th century, tango, as both a dance and as a form of popular music, began to spread throughout Argentina, and later made its way to the ballrooms of Europe and New York.

An international ballet star, Mr. Bocca was born in Buenos Aires where he began his dance training with his mother at the age of four. He studied at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon and during that time danced with the Caracas Ballet Company. In 1983, he joined the Ballet del Teatro Municipal de Rio de Janeiro as a principal dancer, and that same year appeared with the International Ballet of Caracas. In May 1985, Mr. Bocca won the Gold Medal at the Fifth International Ballet Competition in Moscow, and in 1986 he joined American Ballet Theatre as a principal dancer.

In 1997, Mr. Bocca became artistic director of Ballet Argentino, a touring group of young Argentinean dancers. With these dancers, he created “Boccatango,” a collection of dances based on the tango, which had its first United States engagement at the Joyce Theater in July 2004.

The composer Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) was born in Argentina and later moved to New York City where he studied the bandoneon (similar to the accordion). As the founder of the Quinteto Tango Nuevo he incorporated classical and jazz elements into an avant-garde tango style that brought the bandoneon and tango music from the Buenos Aires dancehalls and nightclubs to the international concert stage.

The revised version of Todo Buenos Aires will premiere on Saturday, January 8 at 8 p.m., with additional performances on Tuesday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, January 14 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, January 16 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are available by calling Ticket Master at 212-307-4100, online at www.nycballet.com, or at the New York State Theater Box Office.

New York City Ballet’s 2005 winter season opens on Tuesday, January 4 and continues through Sunday, February 27 at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center (63rd Street and Columbus Avenue). For general information on any New York City Ballet performance call 212-870-5570, or visit www.nycballet.com.

New York City Ballet’s production of Todo Buenos Aires was funded by major grants from The Irene Diamond Fund, Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Altria Group Inc. Additional generous support was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Norman and Rosita Winston Foundation, The Eleanor Naylor Dana Charitable Trust, New York State Council on the Arts, and contributors to the New Combinations and Repertory Funds.
The creation and performance of works by Peter Martins is funded in part by an endowment gift from the Solomon family, given in loving memory of Carolyn B. Solomon.
Air transportation for Mr. Bocca’s appearance is generously provided by American Airlines, New York City Ballet’s preferred airline.

A feature on Alexandra Ansanelli:

What a great article on Alexandra Ansanelli! Her independent artistry is another characteristic that marks her as a special talent. Every performance goes beyond the steps and is infused with her passion for the music.

Ansanelli's parents used to occasionally bring her to David Howard's studio on Sundays. She was about four feet tall with a giant determination. I recall a class in which this little tyke manuvered her way through the line during grand allegro so that she could dance in the same group as Paloma Herrera, a newly appointed ABT soloist. Normally, Howard would wave off a child who did that, but he didn't. Ansanelli literally chased Herrera down the diagonal, stretching her gangly legs to the limit in an effort to keep up with the star who everyone else was watching. "There's the next generation," someone remarked. And so it goes.

Updated casting (Borree is out):

ANUARY 4-9, 2005
TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4 AT 7:30PM
Divertimento No. 15: *FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, RUTHERFORD, BOUDER, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS
Intermission
The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, J. STAFFORD, *RIGGINS, RAMASAR, TINSLEY, *ORZA, BOAL, *ANSANELLI, *HANNA, EVANS, REICHLEN [McDill]
Intermission
Cortège Hongrois: *SYLVE, ASKEGARD, ABERGEL, HANSON, RINGER, FAYETTE

WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5 AT 8:00PM
Ballo della Regina: *BOUDER, MILLEPIED, *HYLTIN, EDGE, *SCHELLER, *RIGGINS
Intermission
Stabat Mater: *RUTHERFORD, WEESE, *RINGER, *J. ANGLE, MARTINS, BOAL [Burton, Walker]
Intermission
Cortège Hongrois: SYLVE, ASKEGARD, ABERGEL, HANSON, RINGER, FAYETTE

THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6 AT 8:00PM
Divertimento No. 15: FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, BORREE, RUTHERFORD, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS
Intermission
Polyphonia: WHELAN, *WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, *MARCOVICI, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters]
Intermission
Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, *FOWLER, *LIANG, HANNA [Chelton]

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7 AT 8:00PM
Ballo della Regina: BOUDER, MILLEPIED, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS
Intermission
Stabat Mater: RUTHERFORD, WEESE, RINGER, J. ANGLE, MARTINS, BOAL [Burton, Walker]
Intermission
I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI

SATURDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 8 AT 2:00PM
Ballo della Regina: BOUDER, *DE LUZ, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS
Intermission
The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, J. STAFFORD, RIGGINS, RAMASAR, TINSLEY, ORZA, BOAL, ANSANELLI, HANNA, EVANS, REICHLEN [McDill]
Intermission
Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton]

SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8 AT 8:00PM
The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, *VEYETTE, *KEENAN, *HALL, HANSON, FOWLER, *SUOZZI, SYLVE, ASKEGARD, *la COUR, REICHLEN [McDill]
Intermission
Todo Buenos Aires: WHELAN, KISTLER, *BOCCA+, EVANS, NEAL, MARTINS, TEWSLEY+ [McDill]
Intermission
I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI

SUNDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 9 AT 3:00PM [Kaplow]
Square Dance: *FAIRCHILD, HÜBBE
Intermission
Polyphonia: WHELAN, WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, MARCOVICI, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters]
Intermission
Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton]

First time in role
+ Guest Artist
# SAB Student

JANUARY 11-16, 2005
TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11 AT 7:30PM
Ballo della Regina: BOUDER, DE LUZ, HYLTIN, EDGE, SCHELLER, RIGGINS
Intermission
Todo Buenos Aires: WHELAN, KISTLER, BOCCA+, EVANS, NEAL, MARTINS, TEWSLEY+ [McDill]
Intermission
Musagète: WHELAN, KOWROSKI, ANSANELLI, TEWSLEY+, FOWLER, LIANG, HANNA [Chelton]

WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 12 AT 8:00PM
Square Dance: FAIRCHILD, BOAL
Intermission
Stravinsky Violin Concerto: ANSANELLI, MARTINS, WHELAN, SOTO [Nikkanen]
Intermission
Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3:
    Elegy: BAR*, HANNA
    Waltz: RUTHERFORD, FAYETTE
    Scherzo: BOUDER, GOLD
    Theme: SYLVE*, ASKEGARD

THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13 AT 8:00PM
Square Dance: TAYLOR*, MARCOVICI
Intermission
Stabat Mater: KISTLER, WEESE, RINGER, SOTO, MARTINS, BOAL [Burton, Walker]
Intermission
I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, J. ANGLE, MARCOVICI

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14 AT 8:00PM
La Source: WEESE, MILLEPIED, BOUDER
Intermission
Todo Buenos Aires: WHELAN, KISTLER, BOCCA+, EVANS, NEAL, MARTINS, TEWSLEY+ [McDill]
Intermission
Carnival of the Animals: LITHGOW+, KAYALI*, ASKEGARD, NICHOLS, FAYETTE, TAYLOR*, RUTHERFORD, BARAK*, HIGGINS, REDPATH [Grant, Walters]

SATURDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 15 AT 2:00PM
Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3:
    Elegy: BAR, HANNA
    Waltz: RUTHERFORD, FAYETTE
    Scherzo: BOUDER, GOLD
    Theme: SYLVE, ASKEGARD
Intermission
Polyphonia: WHELAN, WEESE, ANSANELLI, TINSLEY, SOTO, LIANG, HALL, FOWLER [Moverman, Walters]
Intermission
I'm Old Fashioned: RUTHERFORD, KOWROSKI, RINGER, HIGGINS, NEAL, MARCOVICI

SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 15 AT 8:00PM
Divertimento No. 15: FAIRCHILD, TAYLOR, RUTHERFORD, BOUDER, WEESE, NEAL, J. ANGLE, HIGGINS
Intermission
Stabat Mater: KISTLER, WEESE, RINGER, SOTO, MARTINS, BOAL [Burton, Walker]
Intermission
Carnival of the Animals: LITHGOW+, KAYALI, ASKEGARD, NICHOLS, FAYETTE, TAYLOR, RUTHERFORD, BARAK, HIGGINS, REDPATH [Grant, Walters]

SUNDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 16 AT 3:00PM [Kaplow]
The Four Temperaments: ARTHURS, VEYETTE, BARAK*, FROMAN*, HANSON, FOWLER, SUOZZI*, SYLVE, ASKEGARD, la COUR, REICHLEN
Intermission
Todo Buenos Aires: WHELAN, KISTLER, BOCCA+, EVANS, NEAL, MARTINS, TEWSLEY+ [McDill]
Intermission
Carnival of the Animals: LITHGOW+, KAYALI, ASKEGARD, NICHOLS, FAYETTE, TAYLOR, RUTHERFORD, BARAK, HIGGINS, REDPATHY [Grant, Walters]

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<small>[ 12 January 2005, 01:53 AM: Message edited by: ksneds ]</small>