NEW York City Ballet served up a well-balanced three- course meal Friday night, and while the preparation wasn’t consistently three-star, there was something nutritious and tasty for everyone.
Balanchine’s “Divertimento No. 15” is a gossamer confection: lemon yellow, decorated with ribbons and crystal. It has five ballerinas in it and, generally, the more diverse the dancers, the better.
This cast was even-toned, as neat and petite carried the day. Megan Fairchild whirred in the lead like precision machinery. Her partner, Andrew Veyette, tried to karate-chop the dancing — it’s Mozart, not martial arts.
As one of the demi-soloist men, it looked as if Tyler Angle’s debut was an audition for the lead, and he’d make the cut. He looked especially good with Ana Sophia Scheller — glamour meets class.
For those who like their dishes less sugary, “After the Rain” is one of Christopher Wheeldon’s most heartfelt works. Fragility, uncertainty, hope . . . it’s all there. Three couples moved in the tense gray landscape of an impending storm that yielded to an empty horizon of hazy gold. Wendy Whelan returned with her hair let down and her feet in soft slippers to dance a duet with Craig Hall that’s equal parts love song, lullaby and elegy.
“After the Rain” was made four years ago for Whelan and her longtime dancing partner Jock Soto, just before his retirement. Chances are it will define her late career, as well. In Soto’s role, Hall tenderly ministered to her but doesn’t yet have the strength of presence that Soto had. He was Whelan’s junior, not her equal.
“Firebird” ended the meal with a feast for the eyes. Balanchine knew that the saturated beauty of the Chagall dropcloths and designs ran the show in this ballet; even with endless tinkering, the choreography’s not on par with the designs. Maria Kowroski was the big red bird, and Ask la Cour made his debut as Prince Ivan. He had a noble presence but hadn’t yet stamped the role with his own mark.
NEW YORK CITY BALLET David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center; 212-870-5570. Season runs through June 21.
