The Met Opera House website released casting for ABT’s Spring Season…but took the information down yesterday. This might have been a glitch as ABT usually releases casting in a press release posted in its website. Anyway, here are highlights:
1. David Hallberg is not scheduled to perform in the Spring Season. However, there are 11 male TBDs, leaving plenty of openings.
2. For the first time in many years, there are no scheduled guest artists. Last year there were 9 performances from guest artist females and 7 slots for men. Former guest artists Maria Kochetkova and Alban Lendorf are now company members, scheduled to perform 8 and 10 times, respectively.
3. Polina Semionova, who was out of the 2014 Met Season due to injury, is back and scheduled to dance 7 times.
4. Newly promoted Principal Dancer Stella Abrera is slated to perform lead roles 11 times, notably in La Fille Mal Gardee, The Golden Cocerel, and Sleeping Beauty.
5. Misty Copeland is slated for 9 performances including La Fille Mal Gardee, The Golden Cockerel, Swan Lake Wednesday matinée, and Romeo and Juliet.
6. Young dancers have more lead roles this season; Cassandra Trenary will dance the lead in The Golden Cockerel and Sleeping Beauty; Skylar Brandt will dance The Golden Cockerel; Gabe Stone Shayer is scheduled to appear as Ali in Le Corsaire as is Joo Won Ahn.
7. Diana Vishneva is scheduled in only two performances, both in Romeo and Juliet.
8. As usual, Herman Cornejo and Marcelo Gomes will have heavy work loads. Fan favorite Roberto Bolle will dance the lead in 6 performances.
9. As previously announced, Alessandra Ferri will return in Romeo and Juliet on June 23 with Herman Cornejo.