Above: Daniil Simkin, photo by Mariam Medvedeva
~ Author: Oberon
Wednesday January 14th, 2026 – SONS OF ECHO, a new program from international ballet star Daniil Simkin, brings together five male principal dancers at the height of their careers – Jeffrey Cirio (Boston Ballet), Osiel Gouneo (Bayerisches Staatsballett), Alban Lendorf (Royal Danish Ballet), Siphesihle November (National Ballet of Canada), and Mr. Simkin – in works choreographed by Lucinda Childs, Drew Jacoby, Tiler Peck, and Anne Plamondon.
Tonight’s opening drew a packed house; the show started with a ‘ballet class’ in which the five dancers – joined by ballerina Maria Korchetkova – went thru their paces in a campy setting. Vladimir Rumyantsev was the intrepid pianist.
The pianist remained at his post to play (beautifully) pieces by Matteo Myderwyk for Lucinda Childs’ gorgeous trio NOTES. The three dancers – Mssrs. Cirio, Lendorf, and November – were costumed by Amy Page in long skirts, and Manuel Da Silva’s lighting designs (all evening, actually) were a key element in the dance’s visual appeal. The dancers moved thru the ritual’s stylized passages with hypnotic grace. This captivating dancework could be performed by either men or women; either way, I’d love to see it again.
Mr. Da Silva’s lighting was especially striking in REAL TRUTH, a trio for Mssrs. Gounea, Lendorf, and Simkin, choreographed by Tiler Peck, and having its world premiere this evening. Gregory Porter’s song “Real Truth” – the text both spoken and sung – carried the dancers thru some beautiful combinations, and there were partnering motifs of brotherhood and tenderness woven into their dancing.
My companion (relatively new to the dance world) and I agreed that Anne Plamondon’s WILL YOU CATCH MY FALL (world premiere) was our favorite work of the evening. To an original composition by Ouri, and once again finely lit by Mr. Da Silva, Jeffrey Cirio and Siphesihle November played out a relationship into which the viewer might read various scenarios; the piece is both edgy and consoling, the two men captivating in their charismatic performance. The lighting draws the dancers to a perfect ending, but the piece goes on – needlessly, in my view. Still, the power of the piece is indisputable.
I remember Drew Jacoby from her days of dancing with Rubinald Pronk – an electrifying dance duo – and I loved seeing her in the house tonight, her presence so vivid. Her 2019 quartet, JACK, ended the program this evening, danced by Mssrs. Cirio, Gounea, Lendorf, and Simkin. A musical collage, including scratchy old LPs of Gershwin tunes, set the mood, and again Mr. Da Silva’s lighting (in this case dazzlingly theatrical in its chiaroscuro effects) was an eyeful. A solo by Jeffrey Cirio was especially impressive. The entire piece made for a visually and aurally satisfying finale to the evening, though it would have been more meaningful to have all five dancers involved. If I was going to take this show on the road, I would ditch the “Class” segment and have someone cook up a closing piece for all of the participating dancers.
The curtain calls were fun, and Ms. Childs looked particularly luminous taking her bow. The program wasn’t at all what we were expecting, but then – these days – nothing is.
~ Oberon
Oberon's Glade 