Ferri’s Farewell.

If there is any event to push through sickness for, it’s Alessandra Ferri’s retirement from the New York stage. During my days at NCSA I remember countless evenings watching the video of her fearless and passionate balcony pas de deux from “Romeo and Juliet” in my dorm room with friends. We would marvel at her feet and arched lines but even on video something more came through. Since joining the company, her presence has been less frequent but never diminished, in fact it seemed to grow stronger year to year. To me she was always the most untouchable principal and an almost other worldly presence. Perhaps her celebrity status was what kept me away, but more so than that it was the complete awe that everyone had for her as an artist. She could, and did all the way to her last lingering reach for Romeo, do more with the small details than any other ballerina I’ve seen.

Last night was an event not to be missed so even thought I knew it would be a push health wise I journeyed uptown to assume my spot in the wings. The theater was packed to capacity with well wishers and devoted fans who welcomed the legendary ballerina with the prolonged applause that only a farewell performance evokes (although Freddie Franklin’s entrance applause as the Friar rivaled it.) After saying hello to my friends, I tried to find the best place that I could park myself and remain quiet. “Romeo” is one of the most difficult ballet’s to watch from backstage because of the enormous set that blocks many of the wings but I managed to compact myself enough to fit in the front wing in a position that tested the limits of how much the stage managers would put up with (I wasn’t the only one.)

(One of many blurry shots that I took. This one only begins to show the enormity of the Met audience from the stage.)

My one complaint with the evening was that guest artist Roberto Bolle just wasn’t good enough looking to fulfill the duties required of “Romeo.” Please note the IMMENSE SARCASM in the past sentence….check out the pictures and you will understand just how false the statement is. Ferri had mentioned in an article that she wished to introduce the New York audience to someone new as they bid farewell to her. I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed the pairing. He towered over her (at about 6’ 4”), lifted her with the ease of picking up a t-shirt (the most precious one in the world) and every moment between the two felt incredibly sincere. The balcony pas was everything you could hope for and I’ll miss having the chance to watch her do this from the wings.

After three acts of performing under the immense pressure the curtain fell on her illustrious career with ABT, however it would raise many more times within the next twenty minutes. In typical farewell fashion, the audience leapt to their feet and beckoned her out endlessly. The ranks of ABT, past and present, cascaded onto the stage and tears were shed as everyone cherished the chance to stand on stage with her one last time.



(One of Ferri's adorable daughters who acted as flower collecter and confetti thrower.)

Comments

[Delirium Tremens]

beautiful! thanks so much for sharing :)

[Anonymous]

Hi Matt! I was hoping to see you make it :) Thanks for the beautiful pictures. Do you by chance have any of Alessandra with Julio, backstage or other? The confetti/Julio/two daughters was adorable :)

[Jennifer]

Beautiful photos M! I feel like I was there :) Was to lucky to have witnessed Ferri and Bolle's performance of Manon. Thankfully, Ferri will continue to perform, albeit far away, but lucky Europeans! She is performing with Bolle in October in Hamburg, "Lady of the Camellias". *siiigh* I wish I could see that~

[M]

I didn't get any of Alessandra and Julio :-( By the time I was on stage there was a solid line of people in front of me blocking me from getting any good shots during the "hug procession."

[Dana]

I was there, with the Patron's Society of the Kansas City Ballet, including William Whitener. It was a magical night. From the performance, to running into Jacques D'Amboise at intermission, "isn't she wonderful, Dana?," to the curtain calls that left me in tears.

Thank you so much for these pictures. I will treasure them. :)

[Delirium Tremens]

Jennifer,

is she planning to continue performing? I thought it was sort of a small series of farewell performances (i know she's going to Japan)...

[Tania]

Oh man i bet it was wonderful. I'm so sad i wasn't in new york to see it. And yes, Roberto Bolle is rather, um, handsome isn't he?

[Delirium Tremens]

Thought you would like to know there is a short video clip of the performance up on http://www.nytimes.com

on main page--video section--under arts.

*sob*

[Sparafucile]

I was there! She was wonderful! I had purchased tickets to all of her performances (or, at least, I thought I had tickets to all of them--then the extra Manons were announced.)

I will miss her dancing very much. I've never written a fan letter before, but I was quite tempted to write one to "La Ferri." I love the way she dances with such abandon.

[dwabesnubs]

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