(Flashback to a brilliant farewell afternoon for the great – and much lamented – Albert Evans.)
Above: photo I took of Albert on the promenade during a ballet matinee.
Sunday June 20, 2010 – Whenever you see Albert Evans in the street, if you say ‘hello’ you will be greeted with a tremendous smile and a flood of warmth as if you have just made his day, rather than vice-versa. He will stop and chat you up, and he will make you feel like you are the celebrity. That warmth – and Albert’s big, beautiful spirit – have always made his performances at New York City Ballet particularly enjoyable.
Sexy dancers? There have been many, but few to match Albert with his stunning physique and trademark gorgeous close-shaved head. Muscular and powerful, he seems so athletic that his classically classy technique often surprises viewers, and he long ago mastered the art of the velvety landing.
This afternoon at New York City Ballet audience and Company members alike had a chance to express their love and gratitude to this magnetic and marvelous dancer. Albert danced the Forsythe HERMAN SCHMERMAN pas de deux with Wendy Whelan (above, in Paul Kolnik’s photo) as an apotheosis of one of the ballet world’s grandest partnerships. Wendy and Albert have always been a joy to watch together and today their technical prowess and wit found a perfect distillation in this quirky duet where Albert dons a yellow skirt midway thru. Their curtain calls were full of love and mutual admiration.
Albert’s choice of a leave-taking ballet was Balanchine’s FOUR TEMPERAMENTS (above) and he danced his solo as well as he ever has which is saying a lot. Everyone is the cast seemed to be giving that extra ounce of passion and commitment to make Albert’s send-off truly memorable.
So many memories today: Albert’s Puck in MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Kolnik photo above with Arch Higgins and Alexandra Ansanelli); his Rhinestone Cowboy in WESTERN SYMPHONY, CONCERTO BAROCCO, BUGAKU, RED ANGELS…
…with Wendy in Wheeldon’s LITURGY…
…Ratmansky’s RUSSIAN SEASONS (John Ross photo, above)…
,..AGON (above with Wendy in a Paul Kolnik photo).
Then there were the roles he should have done but which never came his way. I suppose that is one thing about all great dance careers: the ballets you would have been perfect in but never had the opportunity.
Choreography: To date Albert has choreographed three works for New York City Ballet; his HAIKU is a ballet I would especially like to see again. Above: Philip Neal and Wendy Whelan in IN A LANDSCAPE. I am hoping his future plans include more choreographic explorations.
One of my favorite Albert moments in recent seasons happened when he appeared as Rothbart in the Peter Martins SWAN LAKE: “Albert Evans took one of the grandest curtain calls I ever saw: stepping onto the stage, Rothbart’s nastiness drew a volley of boos and hisses. Albert came forward and with an expansive gesture bowed to the House and then stopped to glare: “Careful, or I’ll turn you into a Swan!”
Many of the ballerinas Albert has partnered were on hand for the celebration today including Wendy of course (AGON in a John Ross photo above)…
…and Maria Kowroski (above with Albert in LITURGY).
I was really hoping Miranda Weese would appear; she and Albert danced together often during her career at NYC Ballet. Tess Reichlen, Jennie Somogyi, Jeni Ringer, Yvonne, Darci, Abi and Janie Taylor were among the lucky gals to have a last twirl with one of ballet’s best partners.
The flowers, streamers and volleys of ‘bravos’ swept onward as Albert waltzed and hip-hopped his way around the stage surrounded by his colleagues. One time the curtain rose to find him alone onstage striking an iconic pose as the audience roared with delight.
Tonya and I waited a long time at the stage door to say goodbye to Albert and wish him well…but he never materialized. Word came out that an impromptu dressing-room party had turned into champagne celebration. But we did meet and talk to a lot of the dancers: it’s amazing how young they all are.
It was Albert’s Day for sure but I should also mention that Megan Fairchild, Joaquin de Luz and Lauren King opened the matinee with a beautiful rendition of LA SOURCE and that Sterling Hyltin and Andrew Veyette gave intense, nuanced performances in THE LADY WITH THE LITTLE DOG with its ear-tingling score.
Sharing the stage with Albert in FOUR TEMPERAMENTS were Sebastien Marcovici (spacious, passionate dancing), Jennie Somogyi & Jared Angle (simply grand in their pas de deux) and the riveting Teresa Reichlen. Stephanie Zungre and Alina Dronova looked super in Melancholic and the three opening duets are especially well-danced this season: Faye Arthurs with Christian Tworzyanski, Lauren King with Allen Peiffer, and Rebecca Krohn with Adrian Danchig-Waring. A word of praise also for the four girls who shared the stage with Albert in Phlegmatic: Gwyneth Muller, Ellen Ostrom, Marika Anderson and Dara Johnson.
Happy farewell, Albert! I will miss you both as a dancer and as a personality.
Above: Albert in Balanchine’s FOUR TEMPERAMENTS with Saskia Beskow, Sophie Flack, Ellen Ostrom, and Gwyneth Muller. Photo by Henry Leutwyler.
June 21, 2010
Oberon's Glade 
