The Future of Ballet and Classical Music
Gretchen Smith
Friday, June 27, 2008 was the world premiere of Flit of Fury – The Monarch, Choreography by Adam Hendrickson, Music by Aaron Severini and the woman’s costume by Magda Berliner. New York City Ballet presented a one-time-only galalike event, “Dancers’ Choice” as a benefit for its Dancer’s Emergency Fund. Other highlights: The always amazing Ashley Bouder in “Rubies” and Savannah Lowery in “Union Jack.”
Aaron Severini’s musical debut at Lincoln Center shows the promise of a new generation of classical composers. I’m excited to see what he’ll do next!
Behind the scenes video of the Ballet “Flit of Fury – The Monarch”
Let’s hope it enter the repertory so everyone will have a chance to see it.
NY Times Review
The world premiere was “Flit of Fury — the Monarch,” with music by Aaron Severini and dances by Adam Hendrickson. The most remarkable feature seemed to be the rhythmic intricacy of its music, for two pianos, with a nice overlay of jazz elements and Philip Glass-style rapid-fire minimalism. To have it played onstage, with adjacent pianos at the back of the stage, made for a happy theatrical effect.
There was the new Hendrickson-Severini ballet FLIT OF FURY/THE MONARCH which won an enthusiastic reception. Driven by Aaron’s pulsating score with its ever-shifting harmonics – played on two onstage grand pianos by Steven Peck and Stephen Gosling – the four boys (Rob Fairchild, Sean Suozzi, Allen Peiffer and David Prottas) traded bursts of virtuosity centered in classical technique but with a contemporary edge. In the central duet, Gretchen Smith and Sean Suozzi danced while the three other boys knelt in silhouette… The pianists were in complete command of Aaron’s music which percolates with rhythmic vitality while ominous undercurrents continually rise to the surface. I hope we will have future opportunities to see this ballet – and judging from the cheers that greeted the creators, dancers and musicians I would say the audience agreed with me.
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