After the Metropolitan Opera chief Peter Gelb had forbidden his house magazine, Opera News, to review Met performances in the future (because an editorial had the cheek to comment negatively on some Met decisions) the management has done an abrupt about face, and issued the following statement: In view of the outpouring of reaction from opera fans about the recent decision to … [Read more...] about Peter Gelb’s tyranny gets struck down by Met Opera fans
New York Times
Marie-Agnès Gillot in Milan for Pippo Delbono’s “After The Battle”
This is how The New York Times introduced Delbono to its readership in an interview last year: Part theater, part dance, part carnival, part music, the works of Pippo Delbono are hard to categorize; they leave viewers alternately elated, drained, shocked and thoughtful. His company, with which he has performed all his works since the 1980s, is also hard to categorize. It … [Read more...] about Marie-Agnès Gillot in Milan for Pippo Delbono’s “After The Battle”
Ouch! The NY Times’ Alastair Macaulay strikes a blow at Ratmansky’s ‘Anna Karenina’
According to the Wall Street Journal the New York audience was on its feet to applaud the opening of Anna Karenina with the Mariinsky Ballet. Alastair Macaulay in The New York Times was not impressed. As bad ballets go, Alexei Ratmansky’s two-act “Anna Karenina” is one of the best. It tells its potted version of Tolstoy’s novel with a fair bit of narrative clarity; it manages … [Read more...] about Ouch! The NY Times’ Alastair Macaulay strikes a blow at Ratmansky’s ‘Anna Karenina’
The Royal Ballet’s corps de ballet “has not been first-rate for 30 years”?
Kevin O'Hare's nomination as the new Royal Ballet chief took the New York Times' Alistair Macaulay by surprise. In today's issue he offers O'Hare some advice, and has some harsh criticisms of the company: This way the next Diaghilev? Mr. O’Hare has emphasized the new in his plans for the Royal. But chances are he’ll spend most of his time supervising the old, and in … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet’s corps de ballet “has not been first-rate for 30 years”?
The most luxurious exercise in Giselle compare and contrast since Natalia Makarova and Gelsey Kirkland danced the role at ABT on consecutive nights in 1977
Alastair Macaulay for the New York Times writes: A double climax occurred on Friday and Saturday evenings at the Metropolitan Opera House when the two most idolized interpreters of the title role today, Diana Vishneva (Russian, from the Mariinsky ballet of St. Petersburg) and Alina Cojocaru (Romanian, from the Royal Ballet of London) danced for Ballet Theater. Here was the … [Read more...] about The most luxurious exercise in Giselle compare and contrast since Natalia Makarova and Gelsey Kirkland danced the role at ABT on consecutive nights in 1977
The great Frank Rich leaves The New York Times… and moves on
Rich will leave the paper to join the New York Magazine. He has been an op-ed columnist at the New York Times since 1994, and was the paper’s chief drama critic from 1980 to 1993. New York Magazine editor-in-chief Adam Moss writes, Frank Rich is a giant — a powerhouse critic of politics and culture, a rigorous thinker, a glorious stylist, a skeptic and optimist at the same … [Read more...] about The great Frank Rich leaves The New York Times… and moves on
Alastair Macaulay completes his Nutcrackerthon
The ever-entertaining and perspicacious Alastair Macaulay in the New York Times has completed his Nutcrackerthon. What’s “The Nutcracker” really about? Within its tale of children, the magician godfather Drosselmeyer, snow and sweets, the most striking images are ones of metamorphosis. In a famous scene worthy of Lewis Carroll’s Alice books, the Christmas tree grows colossal, … [Read more...] about Alastair Macaulay completes his Nutcrackerthon
NYCB’s Jenifer Ringer says no need for Macaulay to apologise for weight jibe
The New York City Ballet dancer whom NY Times critic Alastair Macaulay described as looking "as if she'd eaten one sugar plum too many" appeared on NBC'sToday Show to talk about Macaulay's comment and the backlash it provoked. As a dancer, I do put myself out there to be criticized, and my body is part of my art form." … [Read more...] about NYCB’s Jenifer Ringer says no need for Macaulay to apologise for weight jibe