I am a long time devotee of MM. Love his musicality and dance vocabulary. My comments come from an exchange with another audience member specifically about Socrates.
I do believe that it is very difficult to finish an evening with a work like Socrates, folks like to go out with a bang. On the other hand it is also somehow wrong to follow it with something lighter and energetic because those who have entered into the world of spirit and contemplation that it evokes want and need to stay there to allow it to resolve.
The dance vocabulary for the piece was more subtle than the earlier pieces and that gave my guests the feeling that it somehow was a lesser work. This came especially from the balletomane who really still has trouble “reading” modern dance in my opinion. Another problem was the layers of vocal, titles, dance and music. It was more sophisticated and demanding than an Opera in that the number of bodies in motion needed more focused attention than a mostly static Opera requires.
Anyway, I actually felt I would enjoy it more the second time I see it. Also, next time we are in NYC (Dec) we need to take a good look at some of the reinstalled Greek urns and friezes!