Baryshnikov talked with backstage visitors of the dark, lilting Prokofiev score that had drawn him to ''Cinderella,'' and of the irony and sadness inherent in its romantic themes. ''How are things going?'' he asked young Wes Chapman, a new member of the company. He would return in the first intermission, standing deep in thought in the wings, dressed in the blue jeans and sweater he had worn throughout the day. Anastos could be spotted onstage working out a few small finishing touches with the dancers. And the audience at the gala opening performance was not immune to that magic.Ī few moments before the curtain rose last night on the $925,000 production, known as the ''champagne'' ballet because Dom Perignon has underwritten gala parties at cities along the tour route, Mr. Widely seen as the new production that could make or break Ballet Theater after a recent spate of financial troubles, the ballet worked box office magic on the company's just-ended national tour, selling out in every city though the ballet received mixed reviews.Īnd so the New York premiere of ''Cinderella'' was awaited with even more eagerness than ordinarily greets a major new ballet. ''But judging from the response of our audiences on the road it may have been a risk worth taking.'' Baryshnikov, director of Ballet Theater and co-choreographer of the ballet with Peter Anastos. '' 'Cinderella' could be seen as a major risk for the company both financially and artistically,'' said Mr. The work, which opened the American Ballet Theater's eight-week season at the Metropolitan Opera House last night, is one of the most lavish spectacles the company has produced in its 45- year history. The curtain was about to go up on ''Cinderella,'' starring Cynthia Gregory and Patrick Bissell. Mikhail Baryshnikov surveyed the scene, walking back and forth and watching the bewigged dancers quietly as they flexed their feet and limbered up at any nearby surface that could be grasped. ''Where's the pumpkin?'' a prop woman called out sharply. The conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn strode across the stage nervously exercising his hands.
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