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This year’s pared-down New York City Ballet residency makes it that much easier to choose: classical or modern. It’s that simple.
Just go to the ballet. Support the performing arts in Saratoga.
Like the other committed bun-heads out there, I admit to being surprised when NYCB went from four programs down to two this year. Until yesterday, I also assumed performances started tonight, instead of one whole day later on Wednesday, July 9. As you can imagine, the inside baseball buzz about all of this has been deafening. But it also means that Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings are all the same romantic story ballet — Coppélia — so it’s easy to pick a night and go.
Coppélia’s a crowd-pleaser, a sweet story about a man and his life’s work, a doll so lifelike that an unsuspecting man falls in love with her. (Obviously, high jinks ensue — especially when his mischievous fiancée finds out.) There are lively scenes with lots of little ballet students, whose proud family members historically fill a lot of seats. And the classical ballets really let a company like the great NYCB — they’re coming in 90 strong — flex their corp de ballet muscle. Throw in the spectacular staging, fabulous costumes and of course the show-stopping variations…
If you’re looking for dinner and a ballet, pick a night! The last performance will be the 2 p.m. Saturday matinée.
Then … there’s my favorite, the modern program. This year, it’s being performed Friday at 2 p.m. and to close out the season with a bang on Saturday night.
The show, titled “Robbins, Balanchine & Peck” features three works: In G Major, a jazzy Jerome Robbins number; Stravinsky Violin Concerto, a signature work by the company’s legendary founder, George Balanchine; and the SPAC premiere of star choreographer Justin Peck’s brand-new Mystic Familiar.
Book tickets for Coppélia or “Robbins, Balanchine & Peck” online today, or walk-ins are always welcome.
“SPAC is unique and incredibly fortunate to be able to bring these world-class artists to our community,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center back in January. “From the accessible and beloved story ballet Coppélia… to masterworks by Balanchine and Robbins… to the fresh and exciting premiere by Justin Peck, there is something for everyone.”
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I saw Coppelia at its world premiere at SPAC IN 1974 when the season was four weeks long. It was a glorious time!