NYC Ballet, Contemporary Composers

Last night the NYC Ballet Co. performed a program of Contemporary Composers @ the Koch Theater.  Two Hearts by Benjamin Millipied was commissioned by NYC Ballet last year - brilliant move, it is a great ballet.  Millipied is now the Artistic Dir. for the Paris Ballet.  NYC Ballet missed the opportunity to retain Millipied - BIG MISTAKE.  The music was by Nico Muhly with whom Millipied often collaborates.  The ballet is modern, exciting & transforming.  It is destined to be a classic.  The black/white costumes by Rodarte designers are exquisitite.  Hopefully, the Co. will utilize their talents in the future.  The dancing was just a little bit off in the movement which contained freeze frame moments.  Having seen the ballet last year, I was prepared for the macabre song that accompanies the last movement.  I would love to do away with it. Christopher Wheeldon's Soiree Musicale had its NYC Ballet Premiere this past week.  Wheeldon is also one of our best contemporary choreographers.  I can only hope he may once again become NYCs Resident Choreographer.  Soiree contains a Waltz, Scottische, Tango, Two-Step, Pas de Deux & a Finale with the entire cast.  Every style is striking on its own & together, the pieces make for a magnificient ballet.  (Unfortunately, one ballerina had a slip-up during the Waltz.)  A Place for Us by Wheeldon had its World Premiere earlier this week.  The music is by Leonard Bernstein & Andre' Previn. It is a new arrangement on the original piece from West Side Story made for a Pas de Deux. The couple, Pect & Fairchild danced with elegance extraordinaire.  The music was performed on stage by a pianist & clarnetist.  While the ballet was beautiful, it felt more like a tasty morsel yet not quite done.  The last piece on the program was Peter Martin's Hallelujah Junction, '01, and by then we were done & out of there; Hallelujah.