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Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast The Ballets Russes Also see Bill's review of Luck Be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser
The program, presented for three performances at Sarasota Opera House with a live orchestra consisted of three pieces: Les Sylphides, original choreography by Michel Fokine to music of Frederic Chopin; The Afternoon of a Faun, choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky to a score by Claude Debussy; and Petrushka, choreography again by Fokine to a score by Igor Stravinsky. Les Sylphides is the only part of the program that was not new to the repertory of Sarasota Ballet; they performed it in January 2009 for the first time. It is a very classical piece, a series of dances for four soloists, a male/female couple and two women who perform together and separately, and a female corps du ballet. We saw the third performance of the run. and I don't know why, but nothing about this 30-minute ballet rose to the level that this company is capable of and would display in the other pieces. The dancing was not crisp, the corps lacked precision, and none of the principals seemed properly energized. Even the Sarasota Orchestra led by Ormsby Wilkins, who has superb credentials as a ballet conductor, played without enthusiasm. Beautiful designs by Alexandre Benois and lighting by Aaron Muhl were the best part of the opening. Things improved noticeably after the first intermission with Afternoon of a Faun. The orchestra began with the famous eerie clarinet solo which permeates much of this nine-minute ballet. Juan Gil danced well, suggesting the eroticism that is such an important part. Danielle Brown as the lead Nymph lured him away from his nest and provoked him into more flirtatious behavior with the six sister Nymphs. The dancing was much more indicative that this company is growing in stature. The piece was staged by Dr. Ann Hutchinson Guest and Dr. Claudia Jeschke from Nijinsky's dance notations. Much was made in the local press of the importance of this. Designs by Leon Bakst and lighting again by Aaron Muhl were excellent. After another intermission the curtain rose on the Petrushka set during The Butter Week Fair in St. Petersburg, Russia. This ballet which premiered in 1911 has been continuously performed since. By my count, from the program there were well over 50 parts (too many to list them all below) with very little doubling. The sheer number of cast members required makes this a huge challenge. Sarasota Ballet did themselves very proud. All of these many character parts in the first and fourth tableaux were well taken. The dancing was full of energy and excitement. Fabulous costumes and highly evocative sets by Alexandre Benois and again the lighting of Aaron Muhl made the piece highly theatrical. There is a program credit that states "Production John Auld." I am unsure where his work begins and ends but every technical aspect of Petrushka was on the highest level. There are three central roles in this ballet, all puppets. All three principals conveyed the stiffness and jerkiness of marionettes. Petrushka was danced by Ricki Bertoni, The Ballerina by Victoria Hulland, and The Moor by David Tlaiye. Mr. Bertoni was very good but lacked the all out star charisma that can make this role heartbreaking. Ms. Hulland was saucy, flirtatious, and a tease toward Petrushka, then rejected him for the manliness of The Moor. David Tlaiye was smoldering masculinity in his seduction of The Ballerina. In supporting parts, Jacob Hughes as The Conjurer, Ricardo Graziano as the Tipsy Merchant, Patrick Ward and Barny Sharratt as competing Organ Grinders, Sam O'Brien and Calvin Farias as Two Drummers, Ricardo Rhodes as The Devil, and Jason Webb as a Bear were all excellent, as was the entire cast. Sarasota Ballet met all challenges that this ballet presents superbly well. Sarasota Ballet's Ballets Russes was presented May 1 and 2, 2015. Next season will be the company's 25th anniversary season. Highlights include George Balanchine's Stars and Stripes and Emeralds, Sir Fredrick Ashton's Marguerite & Armand and A Wedding bouquet, as well as performances of Matthew Hart's John Ringling's Circus Nutcracker. For more information please visit www.SarasotaBallet.org. Cast:
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