The Boston Ballet previews its 2008-2009 Season with the "Night of Stars," a gala benefit performance to be held October 10. A "dazzling evening of dance, featuring the entire Company," the event will take place at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theater. Principal dancers will perform solos and pas de deux, and will participate in ensemble excerpts from both classical and contemporary ballets. Guest artists Maria Kowroski and Albert Evans, both principal dancers with New York City Ballet, will also perform.
Choreographers featured include George Balanchine, Marius Petipa, William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp, and the Boston Ballet Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo.
A Varied Program
The night's program includes excerpts from In On Blue, and the Second Movement of Balanchine's Concerto Barocco. The pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty, and "Rubies," from Jewels, provides a preview of the coming season. There will also be a World Premiere by Viktor Plotnikov.
Tickets start at $30. The gala will open an exciting season at the ballet for Boston audiences.
Classical Ballet?
The first ballet of the season is "Cinderella," playing from October 16-26. Told "in a fresh new way" by choreographer James Kudelka, the ballet premiered with the Boston Ballet in 2005. The popular tale is re-imagined for a contemporary audience, with Art Deco-inspired scenery and dancers in Roaring Twenties costumes. The score by Prokofiev delights audiences as the story plays out upon the stage.
Contemporary Program
The next ballet of the season is "Black and White," with all choreography by Jiri Kylian. It runs from February 12-15, 2009. "Black and White" includes the dances, "No More Play," with music by Anton Webern; "Petite Mort," music by W.A. Mozart; and "Sarabande," music by J.S. Bach. The other two dances are "Falling Angels," music by Steve Reich, and "Six Dances," music again, by Mozart.
The Boston Ballet is the first company outside of Nederlands Dans Theater to perform this work. The program is exclusive to the Boston Ballet.
Immediately following "Black and White" is, "Jewels," with music by Gabriel Faure, Igor Stravinsky, and Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky. Choreography is by George Balanchine. "Jewels" is a full-length ballet in three parts: "Emeralds," "Rubies," and "Diamonds." It premiered at the New York City Ballet in 1967. The ballet will run from February 26 through March 8.
Back to Basics
"The Sleeping Beauty" is the next ballet on the schedule. Running from April 23- May 3, 2009, the ballet features choreography by Marius Petipa and "has been enchanting audiences of all ages for over a century." The sets and costumes of this production are by David Walker. The music is by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Following "The Sleeping Beauty" comes Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Centennial Celebration, which runs from May 14-17, 2009. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the Ballet Russes, one of the most influential ballet companies of the 20th century. Dancers will perform "The Prodigal Son," "Afternoon of a Faun," "Le Spectre de la Rose," and "Le Sacre du Printemps." Boston Ballet Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo will premiere a new work to Igor Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps." It will be his sixth new work for the Boston Ballet.
The Nutcracker
For the Christmas Season, the Boston Ballet will present "The Nutcracker," slated for The Opera House from November 28-December 28, 2008. Tickets are available to season ticket holders and groups. Ticket packages include the Sugarplum 4-Pack, offering four tickets in section A or B, on select dates, for $200 and up (for the four seats). There is a limit of 8 tickets per order. Magical Date Night offers two tickets for as little as $100 (for the two tickets), with seats in Section A running $136.
Ticket Information
For tickets to all of these events, call Boston Ballet Box Office, at (617) 695-6955. Or, go to ticketmaster.com, password NUTPLUM.
