Performer: New York City Ballet

In a first rate performance and just as balletomanes say goodbye to Harrison Ball, we say hello to the young talent, Domenika Afanasenkov. The cycle continues.

Recent retirements within NYCB have resulted in uneven performances, but there is still hope for future spring programs.

If the famous fairy variations in the Prologue can sometimes expose weaknesses, NYCB proved that it excels in pure classical ballet and not only in the neo-classical repertory.

Over twenty-two vignettes, some long, others short, a cast of thirty pedestrianizes ballet. The work suggests that who you are matters more than what you do. 

The company’s latest Firebird is Isabella LaFreniere. She’s perfect for the role. LaFreniere is tall, commanding, magisterial, with unusually liquid arms and an expressive back.

I must admit I like NYCB’s recent trend away from the themed programming. The combinations can seem strange, but the performances have more variety.