"Giselle"
American Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Opera House
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
July 5, 2023 matinee
by Mary Cargill
copyright © 2023 by Mary Cargill
ABT's policy of giving as many principals as possible a shot at a role limits the opportunities to explore and to grow into a role--one or two performances of "Giselle" every few years makes it difficult to play around with different interpretations and also means that dancers get cast in roles for which they might not seem suited. But this policy does stretch the dancers and can provide some exciting surprises. The the red-headed, robust Catherine Hurlin is not a dancer who comes to mind when thinking of "Giselle", usually a small, dark-haired waif, but she, in her New York debut, gave a vivid and very moving performance, supported by the new Brazilian principal, Daniel Camargo, also making his New York debut.
Catherine Hurlin and Daniel Camargo in "Giselle" photo © Rosalie O’Connor