Ballet in 1949. For the 1970 revival, Jerome Robbins contributed new choreography for the scene with the monsters.
Prince Ivan hunting in the magic forest manages to capture the Firebird, but he releases her after she pleads with him. To reward him, she gives him a magic feather, which he is to wave whenever he needs her help. Kastchei, the evil wizard, is holding a beautiful princess and her maidens captive. With the help of the Firebird, Ivan rescues them while Kastchei and his retinue of monsters are destroyed. The ballet concludes with a festive Russian wedding as Prince Ivan marries the Princess.
In the title role, Maria Kowroski achieved a superb characterization. For someone comparatively new to the role, she managed to capture every nuance with her supernatural fluttering and majestic poise. Kowroski was the essence of the half bird-half woman, giving particular credence to the Russian fairytale.
As the Prince, Charles Askegard certainly made a handsome appearance, and his heroic stance marked him an ideal royal. Eva Natanya's delicate bearing and movements were those of a fairytale princess to the core.
The original luscious Marc Chagall scenery and costumes (the former executed under the supervision of Volodia Odinokov, the latter by Karinska) contributed to the glowing production.
NYCB and ABT Promotions
New York City Ballet announced that soloists James Fayette, Sébastien Marcovici, and Benjamin Millepied have been promoted to principal dancers, and corps de ballet member Rachel Rutherford has been promoted to soloist, all effective immediately.
Meanwhile, ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie announced that Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes will be promoted to principal dancers; Monique Meunier, currently of NYC Ballet, will join ABT as a soloist; and ABT corps de ballet members Maria Riccetto and Gennadi Saveliev will be promoted to soloists. All promotions become effective for the 2002-2003 season.
Art Installation Celebrates NYC Dance
Noted artist Jessica Daryl Winer has created an installation celebrating dance in New York—18 art pieces suspended from overhead wires—at the Times Square Visitors Center, which is located at 1560 Broadway between West 46th and 47th streets in the restored Embassy Theatre. The exhibition, "Dancing on Air…in Times Square," will run until November and is open to the public every day from 8 am to 8 pm.