Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | McPhee

On Friday, American Ballet Theatre gave us two Shakespearean reveries, José Limón’s Moor’s Pavane and Alexei Ratmansky’s new Tempest, and the contrast served neither well. Limón’s tightly structured, minimalist meditation on the theme of jealousy in Othello was partly overshadowed by the glittering spectacle of The Tempest.

Thursday night belonged to the corps de ballet at American Ballet Theatre. With the ghost of George Balanchine watching from his customary spot in the downstage right wing at the theatre formerly known as the New York State Theater, his blissful Theme and Variations and Alexei Ratmansky’s electrifying Piano Concerto no.

Sometimes it seemed as though the sun would never set on Dawn. At nearly three hours long, it made for a blockbuster opening to the '50 Years of Minimalism' festival. Thankfully, the Labèque sisters, a rock ensemble, electronic keyboard and the obligatory tape machine on stage were brilliant company for the whole, overlong affair.