Boston Ballet looks back and forward in ‘Spring Experience'
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Nissinen's solution condenses the first two acts into 30 minutes, during which time Raymonda celebrates her name day, her friends console her after Jean leaves, and she dances with Jean in a dream. The concluding Hungarian-themed wedding celebration expands to 40 minutes by borrowing some variations from the first two acts.
The opening section still feels thin. Designer Robert Perdziola's color palette is austere to start, gold, silver, and white all edging into gray, and the costumes lack texture and dimension. The choreography is pleasing rather than exciting; music director Mischa Santora's adaptation seems to leach the sumptuousness out of Glazunov's score.
The wedding celebration in "Raymonda" introduced a richer palette from designer Robert Perdziola.
Theik Smith
Kapitonova and Lee were a treat, however, her emotional effusiveness complementing his noble reserve. And the wedding celebration brought a richer palette from Perdziola and a more Glazunovian sound from the Boston Ballet Orchestra, especially in the Adagio of the Pas Classique Hongrois. A well-matched Lauren Herfindahl and Lasha Khozashvili led the Grand Csárdás with energy and precision; the expanded number of variations brought exquisite work from Seo Hye Han, Chenxin Liu, Courtney Nitting, Ji Young Chae, and, in two of the most demanding numbers, Lia Cirio. Lee added double cabrioles to his impressive double tours and tours à la seconde; Kapitonova teased out her variation (to a sympathetic piano solo from Alex Foaksman) and then, in the Coda, sustained her passé-relevé sequence at a daringly slow tempo. The closing Galop brought back the Csárdás contingent for a rousing finish.
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Kylián's '27′52″' debuted in 2002, the title referring to the piece's running time (closer to 31 minutes Thursday) and also to the birthdate — 20.07.1952 — of its dedicatee, former Nederlands Dans Theater member Gerald Tibbs. The curtain rises on the six dancers moving in silence, men bare-chested, women in different-colored sleeveless tops, a light bank dangling stage left. Either the piece has started or they're just warming up. Over the next half hour, descending panels of white fabric will encroach on the action. The flooring will come up in strips, and the dancers will take cover under it, or hold it at both ends and make it ripple. Dirk Haubrich's banging, booming score will be complemented by voice-overs reciting poetry by Baudelaire, Guillaume Depardieu, and Bruce Lee.
Lia Cirio and Paul Craig are a focal point in Jiří Kylián's 27'52"," which is named for and dedicated to former Nederlands Dans Theater member Gerald Tibbs.
Theik Smith
The dancers form three couples, though at the outset, Lia Cirio has to extricate herself from Jeffrey Cirio (her real-life brother) to hook up with Paul Craig. He pushes her about; she responds with jittery gesticulation. Chyrstyn Mariah Fentroy and Ángel García Molinero follow, kickboxing at each other before declaring a unison truce. Chisako Oka enters and has a frenzied duet with Jeffrey Cirio.
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But Craig and Lia Cirio are the focal point. She's lain down upstage; now she pulls off her red top and rises; now both bare-chested, they grow more intimate. Haubrich's score begins to obsess over a motif from the opening bars of Mahler's 10th Symphony. Craig and Cirio find accommodation, even equality, until her jittery gesticulation returns. She runs away; he overtakes her. He tries to wrap her in a strip of flooring; she escapes and runs to Jeffrey Cirio at the other end of the stage. She runs back to Craig, but he's now under that flooring. She returns to Jeffrey Cirio and lets him cover her. Three huge sheets crash down, as if the ceiling had fallen in. Perhaps the floor has provided protection.
In Jiří Kylián's "Petite Mort," one set of dancers wield foils; the other, dresses.
Theik Smith
'Petite Mort,' which Kylián created in 1991 for the bicentennial of Mozart's death, is simpler and more light-hearted. The title, 'Little Death,' is a French euphemism for 'orgasm'; the score pairs the Adagio from Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 and the 'Elvira Madigan' Andante from his Piano Concerto No. 21. Six men in gold corset briefs back toward us, each balancing a foil on his right index finger. Barely visible upstage are six women in gold tops and briefs, all hiding behind full-skirted black dresses hung on frameworks with rollers. The men roll the foils around on the floor, lift them with their toes, swish the air; the women embrace the dresses as if making love to them.
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Couples eventually emerge. Liu gets temporary possession of Isaac Mueller's foil before the phallic symbols are put aside. Nitting and Sun Woo Lee follow, then Emily Aston and Yue Shi, Haley Schwan and Patrick Yocum, Herfindahl and Khozashvili, Sage Humphries and Sangmin Lee. A recurring pose has the women lying on their backs and supporting the men on their raised knees: simulated sex with an element of evasion. The foils never reappear; at the end of 'Petite Mort,' it's the dresses that are rolled from the wings to gather centerstage. Men may do the manipulating, but women have the power.
SPRING EXPERIENCE
Presented by Boston Ballet. At Citizens Opera House, through May 25. Tickets $32-$202. 617-695-6955,
Jeffrey Gantz can be reached at
Jeffrey Gantz can be reached at
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Cosmopolitan
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Music By: Buena Vista Social Club Book By: Marco Ramirez Main Original Cast: Natalie Venetia Belcon (Omara), Julio Monge (Compay), Mel Semé (Ibrahim), Jainardo Batista Sterling (Rubén), Isa Antonetti (Young Omara), Da'Von T. Moody (Young Compay), Wesley Wray (Young Ibrahim), Leonardo Reyna (Young Rubén), Renesito Avich (Eliades), Ashley De La Rosa (Young Haydee), Justin Cunningham (Juan De Marcos). Tony Nominations: 10 Tony Awards: TBDOpening Date: Sep 25, 1979 Closing Date: Jun 26, 1983 Revival: Apr 5, 2012 to Jan 26, 2013 About: Set in Argentina, Evita tells the story of Eva Perón, the iconic first lady of the Latin American country, who rose from poverty to become a powerful figure in the region. The musical explores her political ambitions, charity work, and eventual death from cancer at age 33. Music / Lyrics by: Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice Book By: Tim Rice Main Original Cast: Patti LuPone (Eva Perón), Bob Gunton (Perón), Mandy Patinkin (Che) Main Revival Cast: Elena Roger (Eva Perón), Michael Cerveris (Perón), Ricky Martin (Che) Tony Nominations: 11 for the original, 3 for the revival Tony Awards: 7 for the original, including best musical, best book of a musical, best original score, best actress in a musical (Patti LuPone), best featured actor in a musical (Mandy Patinkin), best lighting design, and best direction of a musicalOpening Date: Mar 9, 2008 Closing Date: Jan 9, 2011 About: A story of heritage, faith and healing love, In the Heights is about the hopes and struggles of residents of New York City's Washington Heights. Music / Lyrics By: Lin-Manuel Miranda Book By: Quiara Alegría Hudes Main Original Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Usnavi), Andréa Burns (Daniela), Janet Dacal (Carla), Robin De Jesús (Sonny), Carlos Gomez (Kevin), Mandy Gonzalez (Nina), Christopher Jackson (Benny), Priscilla Lopez (Camila), Olga Merediz (Abuela Claudia), Karen Olivo (Vanessa) Tony Nominations: 13 Tony Awards: 4, including best musical, best original score written for the theatre, best choreography and best orchestrationsOpening Date: May 3, 1993 Closing Date: Jul 1, 1995 About: Based on the 1976 novel by Manuel Puig, Kiss of the Spider Woman explores the complex relationship between Molina and Valentin, two cellmates in an Argentine prison during the Dirty War. Molina, a gay man, uses his imagination and his love for movies to create a world of escapism for himself and, unexpectedly, for Valentin, a political prisoner. 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Music / Lyrics By: Mitch Leigh / Joe Darion Book By: Dale Wasserman Main Original Cast: Richard Kiley (Don Quixote – Cervantes), Irving Jacobson (Sancho Panza), Joan Diener (Aldonza – Dulcinea) Tony Nominations: 7 for the original, 1 for the 1977 revival, 3 for the 2002-2003 revival Tony Awards: 5 for the original, including best musical, best composer and lyricist, best actor in a musical (Richard Kiley), best scenic design, and best direction of a musicalOpening Date: Nov 5, 2015 Closing Date: Aug 20, 2017 About: On Your Feet! tells the inspiring true story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, two people who believed in their talent —and each other— to become an international sensation. Featuring their hits like 'Rhythm Is Gonna Get You' and 'Conga', the show is a celebration of their musical journey and the challenges they faced in music and in life. Music / Lyrics By: Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan Book By: Alexander Dinelaris Main Original Cast: Ana Villafañe (Gloria), Josh Segarra (Emilio), Andréa Burns (Gloria Fajardo), Alma Cuervo (Consuelo), Eduardo Hernandez (Nayib) Tony Nominations: 1 Tony Awards: 0Opening Date: Apr 27, 2025 Closing Date: n/a About: Set in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles in 1987, Real Women Have Curves follows Ana García, an bright 18-year-old determined to become the first member of her family to go to college. But when the family garment business receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions, her mother Carmen's expectations, and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds. The show is based on the play by Josefina López and HBO's movie adaptation. Music / Lyrics By: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez Book By: Lisa Loomer, Nell Benjamin Main Original Cast: Tatianna Córdoba (Ana García), Justina Machado (Carmen García), Florencia Cuenca (Estela García), Mauricio Mendoza (Raúl García) Tony Nominations: 2 Tony Awards: TBDOpening Date: Sep 26, 1957 Closing Date: Jun 27, 1959 Revivals: Apr 27, 1960 to Dec 10, 1960; Apr 8, 1964 to May 3, 1964; Feb 14, 1980 to Nov 30, 1980; Mar 19, 2009 to Jan 02, 2011; Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 11, 2020 About: A modern representation of Romeo & Juliet, West Side Story is set in the West Side of New York City during the summer of 1957, and explores the rivalry between two youth warring street gangs: The Jets, of European roots, and the Sharks, of Puerto Rican origin. Things get complicated when Tony, a member of the Jets, falls madly in love with Maria, the sister of the Sharks' leader. Music / Lyrics By: Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim Book By: Arthur Laurents Main Original Cast: Mickey Calin (Riff), Larry Kert (Tony), Carol Lawrence (Maria), Ken Le Roy (Bernardo), Chita Rivera (Anita) Tony Nominations: 6 for the original production; 2 for the 1964 revival; 2 for the 1980 revival; 4 for the 2009-2011 revival Tony Awards: 2 for the original production, including best scenic design and best choreography; 1 for the 2009-2011 revival, for best featured actress in a musical (Karen Olivo) Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
