Vaslav Nijinsky (1890-1950)

Nijinsky

chor. John Neumeier  (2000)

ballet based on the life of Vaslav Nijinsky (1890-1950)

National Ballet of Canada, Toronto, 2 - 8 March 2013

on 2 March 2013, evening

with Guillaume Côté (Vaslav Nijinsky) and Heather Ogden (Romola Pulszky)

The performance was moving, powerful, and polished, often with a large cast on stage. Guillaume Côté went through an astonishing array of movement and emotion as Vaslav, ranging from the euphoria of artistic achievement through depths of emotional despair and ultimately madness. Alter egos were ingenious reminders of Nijinsky's great performances and creations in Spectre of the Rose, Afternoon of a Faun, Petrushka, and more.  Heather Ogden was a wonderful support, reflecting Romola's love throughout. An innocent and bewildered Petrushka, portrayed with feeling by Aleksandar Antonijević, slumped at stage right in deepening shadow. A remarkable Dylan Tedaldi shadowed the principal's ultimate emotional and mental collapse. In Nijinsky John Neumeier has created a highly imaginative, nuanced work worthy of his subject.