Social Diary 11/23/05 - New York City Ballet's opening night of their 123rd New York Season. “Opening Night 2005; An American Musical Celebration.”

Last night at the Ballet

An excerpt from “Fearful Symmetries” as performed by the New York City Ballet at its opening night performance on the stage of The New York State Theater at Lincoln Center. Photo: JH.

It rained and poured all day yesterday, drying off after the sun went down and the first cold winds forecast from the Great Lakes began blowing a wintry chill across the city.

I put on my black tie and went over to the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center where the New York City Ballet had their opening night of their 123rd New York Season: “Opening Night 2005; An American Musical Celebration.”

Albert Evans, Charlotte Moss, Allison Sarofim, and Peter Martins

The evening’s program opened with “Fearful Symmetries” with music by John Adams, choreography by Peter Martins and conducted by Andrea Quinn, with costumes by Steven Rubin and lighting by Mark Stanley. Principal dancers were Ashley Bouder and Joaquin de Luz, Austin Laurent, Daniel Ulbricht, and Allen Peiffer.

Mr. Adams’ music is new to these unsophisticated ears although he is regarded as one of the best known and most often performed living American composers. The critic in Le Monde wrote that his music “gives the impression of a rediscovered liberty, of an open door which lets in the fresh air in great gusts.” Or, to return to my primitive critical ability, his music can remind one of traveling very fast (at perhaps the speed of sound), in an open car down an infinite and curving highway.

The performance last night was to these eyes something very modern, fresh and new and at times thrilling and compelling. By the final curtain, I got the impression many in the theater were on the same wave length as I.

This particular work premiered on May 3, 1990 at the same theater. During the intermission, Gordon Pattee, a director of the NYC Ballet told me that this Adams composition was first suggested to Peter Martins by a former director and major financial supporter of the NYC Ballet, Gillian Atfield. Martins at first couldn’t see how he could choreograph the score. However, time passed, and in searching for something new and rhythmic, he went back and gave it another look.

After intermission, we saw the World Premiere of “In a Landscape,” with music by John Cage and choreography by Albert Evans. Costumes by Carole Divet and lighting by Mark Stanley, and danced by Wendy Whelan and Philip Neal, accompanied by Kurt Nikkanen on the violin and Alan Moverman at the piano. Again something very contemporary to these classical ballet-expecting eyes, and a great hit with the audience. Mr. Evans came out with Whalen and Neal for a curtain call and then again by himself, getting a thunderous ovation, acknowledging his great popularity with the balletomanes.

Accepting a bouquet and taking a bow at the conclusion of “Fearful Symmetries”

The final piece was Jerome Robbins’ “N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz.” With music by Robert Prince, costumes by Florence Klotz, scenery, spectacular scenery by Ben Shahn (!) and lighting by Jennifer Tipton.

The first course of Basil Shrimp on an Artichoke with Cucumber Salad

The program described the piece as a “formal, abstract ballet based on the kinds of movements, complexities of rhythms, expressions of relationships, and qualities of atmospheres found in today’s dance.” It was first performed on June 8, 1958 at the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto. Again, to these eyes, one could see the choreographer’s developing dance ideas that later became famous to millions as his dances created for the now legendary “West Side Story.” And, again, a great crowd pleaser.

After the performance several hundred (who bought the benefit tickets) stayed on for the Supper Ball on the promenade. Anthony Todd decorated the space with bowers and small forests of bamboo trees. Glorious Food prepared the menu of Basil Shrimp on an Artichoke with Cucumber Salad, Filet of Beef with Red Wine Sauce, Creamed Spinach and Crispy Fngerling Potatoes, followed by Deep Dish Apple Crumb Pie and Whipped Cream. The wines served were Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio 2003 and Louis Martini Napa Cabernet 2001 and Domaine Chandon Brut. All while Tom Finn provided the music, first the background and then for the dancing.

Christy Turlngton Burns was honorary chairman and Charlotte Moss and Allison Sarofim were chairmen of the gala. They raised $1.5 million for the Ballet Company.