Boston Ballet Launches 50th Year with Five Company Premieres and Historic Touring

Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen today announced the programming for an exciting 2013-2014 season. The Company will commence its 50 year celebration this July with a tour to London, England where they will perform at the London Coliseum. In a sweeping gesture of gratitude to its home city, Boston Ballet will present the first-ever Night of Stars gala on Boston Common - a free performance for the greater-Boston community. Programming includes an astounding range of works, featuring stunning classics La Bayadere and Cinderella, two cutting-edge repertory programs containing American and world premieres, and Balanchine's masterpiece, Jewels. Bringing the season to a triumphant close, Boston Ballet will tour to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and end with performances at the Koch Theater in New York City's Lincoln Center.

"We have exhilarating momentum going into our 50th year," said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. "The 2013-2014 season is a pivotal celebration of the Company's distinguished past, extraordinary present, and exciting future. This milestone year is an opportunity to celebrate today's Boston Ballet and give thanks to all the people who have helped us get here."

Boston Ballet kicks off the 50th season with a presentation at the Ballet Across America Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and a return to London after 30 years. On July 3-7, 2013, the Company will self-present six performances at the London Coliseum. Two programs were carefully selected by Artistic Director, Mikko Nissinen to highlight the magnitude of Boston Ballet's repertoire and the versatility of its dancers. The dynamic collection of ballets the Company will perform in London reflect a century of groundbreaking choreography, ranging from Vaslav Nijinsky to George Balanchine, to Boston Ballet Resident Choreographer, Jorma Elo. For more on the tour to London see the London Tour press release.

To begin this memorable season at home, Boston Ballet will present a one-night-only performance of Night of Stars on Boston Common - September 21, 2013. Free to the public, the evening will feature a wonderful selection of Boston Ballet's diverse repertoire. The Company will perform a range of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary favorites, such as George Balanchine's Serenade and Symphony in Three Movements, Mikhail Fokine's Dying Swan, and Jorma Elo's Brake the Eyes, among others.

"Boston Ballet has much to celebrate as it turns 50," said Executive Director Barry Hughson. "The organization is seeing strength on all levels, from the stage to the boardroom. Throughout this season of great festivity, we hope to engage a broad Boston audience and share our mission of promoting excellence in artistic endeavors, dance education and unparalleled community outreach programs."

The Boston Opera House season opens in October 2013 with the return of the magnificent La Bayadere, an exotic tale of love and betrayal. In December, Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker will reclaim the stage with its exquisite sets and costumes by Robert Perdziola. After record breaking popularity in its debut year, this critically acclaimed spectacular production is sure to be a highlight of the holiday season. In February 2014, Boston Ballet will present a trio of thrilling works in Close to Chuck, consisting of Ji?í Kylian's brilliant Bella Figura, a world premiere by José Martinez, former Etoile with Paris Opera Ballet and current Artistic Director of National Ballet of Spain, and C. to C. (Close to Chuck) by Jorma Elo in collaboration with composer Phillip Glass and artist Chuck Close. In March the Company will unveil a new addition to the classical repertoire with Sir Frederick Ashton's sensational classic, Cinderella. In May, Boston Ballet presents three ballets that will touch audiences profoundly in Pricked. This scintillating selection of works featuring Petr Zuska's ethereal D.M.J.(1953-1977), Alexander Ekman's bold Cacti, and Harald Lander's beautiful Etudes. The final production presented at The Boston Opera House will be George Balanchine's renowned tour de force, Jewels.

The 50th season will culminate in June 2014 with back-to-back domestic tours to The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. and The David H. Koch Theater at New York City's Lincoln Center. This paramount year honors Boston Ballet as a landmark cultural institution, making history in Boston for the past 50 years and into the next.

London Tour
The London Coliseum
July 3 - 7, 2013

Night of Stars on Boston Common
September 21, 2013

La Bayadère
October 24 - November 3, 2013

Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Florence Clerc

The Nutcracker
November 29 - December 29, 2013

Music: P.I. Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Mikko Nissinen

Close to Chuck
February 20 - March 2, 2014

Bella Figura
Music: Lukas Foss*
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Alessandra Marcello
Antonio Vivaldi
Giuseppe Torelli
Choreography: Ji?í Kylián

C. to C. (Close to Chuck)
Music: Philip Glass
Choreography: Jorma Elo
Boston Ballet Premiere

World Premiere
Choreography: José Martinez
World Premiere

Cinderella
March 13 - 23, 2014

Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Choreography: Sir Frederick Ashton
Boston Ballet Premiere

Pricked
May 8 - 18, 2014

D.M.J. (1953-1977)
Music: Antonín Dvo?ák
Bohuslav Martin?
Leoš Janá?ek
Choreography: Petr Zuska
American Premiere

Cacti
Music: Joseph Haydn
Ludwig van Beethoven
Franz Schubert
Andy Stein
Gustav Mahler
Choreography: Alexander Ekman
American Premiere

Etudes
Music: Carl Czerny
Adapted and orchestrated by Knudåage Riisager
Choreography: Harald Lander

Jewels
May 22 - June 1, 2014

Emeralds
Music: Gabriel Urbain Fauré
Choreography: George Balanchine

Rubies
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: George Balanchine

Diamonds
Music: Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine

Washington DC Tour
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
June 2014

New York City Tour
The David H. Koch Theater - Lincoln Center
June 2014

About Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet's internationally acclaimed performances of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary ballets, combined with a dedication to world class dance education and community outreach programs have made the institution a leader in its field, with a 50 year history of promoting excellence and access to dance. In addition to the brilliant programming for the 2013-2014 season, Boston Ballet will celebrate its 50th anniversary by launching a micro-site featuring 50 years of Boston Ballet in photos. Throughout the duration of the season, a limited edition souvenir program featuring never-before-seen Company photography will be sold. As an exciting new initiative, Boston Ballet will be reaching out to Company dancers of the past 50 years for an alumni weekend celebration March 14-16, 2014.

Boston Ballet maintains a diverse repertoire, ranging from timeless classics such as Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle, John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet, and a rich collection of Balanchine choreography to cutting edge contemporary works by Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo and the visionary Ji?í Kylián.

Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to excellence and access. The School reaches more than 10,000 students (toddler to adult) each year through Boston Ballet School classes, the Summer Dance Workshop, and the Summer Dance Program held at three studio locations in Boston, Newton, and Marblehead.

Boston Ballet's nationally-acclaimed education programs include Citydance, Taking Steps, and Adaptive Dance. The programs are offered in partnership with the Boston Public Schools and in communities throughout the city and region.

Boston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following institutional partners:

State Street Corporation, 2012 Presenting Sponsor, The Nutcracker, London Tour

Barr Foundation

The Boston Foundation

Massachusetts Cultural Council

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