"Jewels": The Bavarian State Ballet, February 28th, 2023

This time not a review by me. In fact I have avoided this performance…

Here some very interesting but quite sad comments… a very similar situation to what is happening in Vienna…

Copyright: Bavarian State Ballet

Mr. Leitner ,

I remember your comment about the ballet audience at the National Theater in Munich .  I only went to see "Jewels" on February 28 to see the debut of Julain MacKay as the Principal in "Diamonds ".

Having seen this ballet at NYCB since its premiere in 1967 , and having seen other companies and various videos , I can state that this was the worst performance of this ballet that I have ever seen ! "Emeralds" was like seeing a slow-motion film .The female corps looked like they were dancing in molasses . The Solo Pair woman - Zeisel - looked like a fish out of water - making a silly face, as did her partner - Zhang . "Rubies"  featured Osiel Guneo - a Cuban  - muscular and short like a bodybuilder - struggled with the steps , and changed some to compensate for his declining technique . He was slow , and could barely leap . His partner - Ivanova-Skobilkova - was just as inadequate .The Female Soloist - Ibraimova was an embarrassment . The four men were too slow ,  and hit the stage like a bag of potatoes dropping . In "Diamonds" - both - Baranova and Mackay made their debuts . I felt that Baranova was too tall for MacKay , and his lifts were effortful . Mackay is the more talented - but one wonders if at his age he will develop in such a provincial backwater .  The corps was sloppy beyond belief . What I find interesting is that Hilaire allowed the company to perform a ballet that they are not able to dance  . With his background I wonder about his judgement . He should have  replaced it with a ballet that they are able to dance decently .

The audience response was tepid ...a few cheers for Gouneo and MacKay , and one solitary "Boo"...I remembered when this company presented "Spartacus" - they could not contain their enthusiasm . After the performance , waiting for a streetcar , I was looking through the program guide ( A waste of 6 Euro ), and a Munich matron asked me what I thought of the performance...of course I let her know my opinion . She replied that the ballet was "boring" and "old-fashioned' and "not exciting" , and then she waved her arms , saying  that there was "too much "of it - it guess she meant  Port de Bras . I pointed out that I have been seeing NYCB since 1964 , and that "Jewels" was a masterpiece , and that this company should not be dancing  it . I also told her she should see the company in NYC......the streetcar arrived..and she ran to the end of the car in order to avoid continuing the conversation.

Regards,

Fritz  Grantler