American Ballet Theatre’s 2023 Spring Season features the New York premiere of Wheeldon’s “Like Water for Chocolate,” with classics “Giselle,” “Swan Lake,” and “Romeo and Juliet;” in the company’s first season under new artistic director Susan Jaffe. It’s at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center; from June 22 – July 22, 2023. From $33. 🇲🇽
Susan Jaffe makes her mark with a series of ballets about passion.
The ABT Summer Gala is on opening night, Thursday, June 22, 2023.
Like Water for Chocolate
American Ballet Theatre performs the New York premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s “Like Water for Chocolate,” a new full-length ballet, based on the Mexican novel and award-winning film famed for passionate Magical Realism; at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center; June 22 – July 1, 2023. From $33. 🇲🇽
This is a great story about Tita, a family cook whose diners feel her emotions after a meal. Her mean mother forbids Tita to marry her true love Pedro, so she has a lot of pent up feelings. When her emotions flow into family meals, strange but wonderful things happen.
- Principal Daniel Camargo dances Pedro on June 23, 27, 29 and July 1. 🇧🇷
- Principal Herman Cornejo dances Pedro on June 24, 28, and July 1. 🇦🇷
- Carlos Gonzalez dances Pedro on June 26. It’s a real opportunity for him. 🇪🇸
Magical Realism, in which the spirit and physical worlds intermingle, is considered by most Americans to be a literary construct. But in the Latin world, it is how we make sense of the real magic of life.
This is a co-production with The Royal Ballet.
Giselle
American Ballet Theatre performs Kevin McKenzie’s “Giselle” to Adolphe Adam at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center; from July 3-8, 2023.
This is one of the most iconic classical ballets. Giselle, a peasant girl, falls in love with Albrecht, a disguised nobleman. When Albrecht’s identity is revealed by a rival, Giselle dies of heartbreak. Her spirit becomes a Wilis, the ghost of a betrayed woman who takes revenge by dancing men to death in the night. When Albrecht visits Giselle’s grave, the Wilis come after him, but Giselle’s love saves him, and saves herself from a ghostly existence.
- Principal Daniel Camargo dances Albrecht on July 5. 🇧🇷
- Principal Herman Cornejo dances Albrecht on July 5. 🇦🇷
- Principal Calvin Royal III dances Albrecht on July 6. 🇺🇸
The July 8, 2023 performance is a tribute to Lupe Serrano (1930-2023), the Chilean Mexican ballerina who was ABT’s first Hispanic dancer.
Swan Lake
American Ballet Theatre performs Kevin McKenzie’s “Swan Lake” to Tchaikovsky at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center; from July 10-15, 2023. From $33.
It’s the story of Prince Siegfried who falls in love with Princess Odette, but she and her friends are cast into swans by the sorcerer Baron von Rothbart. The only thing that can break the spell is true love. Tricked by the Baron into proclaiming love to another, Prince Siegfried follows his beloved swan to a watery death which breaks the spell and unites the lovers for eternity.
- Principal Daniel Camargo dances Prince Siegfried on July 10. 🇧🇷
- Principal Herman Cornejo dances Prince Siegfried on July 13. 🇦🇷
- Principal Calvin Royal III dances Prince Siegfried on July 15. 🇺🇸
The July 14 performance is a special evening for new artistic director Susan Jaffe.
Romeo and Juliet
American Ballet Theatre performs Kenneth MacMillan’s “Romeo and Juliet” to Prokofiev; at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center; from July 18-22, 2023. From $33.
- Principal Calvin Royal III dances Romeo on July 19. 🇺🇸
- Principal Daniel Camargo dances Romeo on July 19. 🇧🇷
- Principal Herman Cornejo dances Romeo on July 22. 🇦🇷
- Carlos Gonzalez dances Mercutio on July 18 and 22. 🇪🇸
For tickets, visit metopera.org