Tatyana Martyanova and Justin Vanweest in Ben Stevenson’s END OF TIME (Photo: Tiffany Bertolami-Fong and Michael Malerba)
It’s not often that this hard-bitten critic is reduced to deciphering tear-stained notes, but such was the case after the February 1st performance by Diablo Ballet at the intimate and congenial Shadelands Arts Center in Walnut Creek. The waterworks were prompted by two of the five short dances on offer, which featured the live performance of two of the most ravishing pieces ever written for cello and piano.
Mendelssohn’s Song without Words, Op. 109 and the passionate slow movement of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata in G Minor for Cello and Piano, interpreted by the admirable Roy Bogas on piano and Mason Dille on cello, inspired two lovely duets choreographed by David Fonnegra and Ben Stevenson, respectively.
The program also featured Robert Dekkers in Compulsive, a hard-edged solo by Mário Radačovský, set to a twisted, pulsating anthem by Yann Tiersen; the frivolous, bravura-filled pas de deux from Esmeralda; and Dekkers’ AnOther, an intriguing ensemble piece. Click here to read our full review in Bachtrack.
If you missed it, you’ll get another chance to catch this program in April at the Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City.
In the meantime, this tiny, versatile company will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a gala performance at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on Saturday March 6th. Make a date with the stylish Diablo Ballet!
