Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen today announced Boston Ballet will tour to London, England July 1 – 7,2013 for a six performance debut at the London Coliseum. The date marks the return of Boston Ballet to London for the first time in 30 years. The Company will present two programs, showcasing the diversity of Boston Ballet’s repertoire and the versatility of its artists.
The tour will commence Boston Ballet 50th anniversary season. “The performances are an exciting opportunity to bring this versatile ballet company to London”, said Nissinen. “The repertoire duly represents classical ballet, neo-classical dance and cutting edge contemporary dance.” The dynamic collection of ballets the Company will perform in London reflect a century of ground breaking choreography ranging from Nijinsky to Boston Ballet resident choreographer Jorma Elo.
Program A highlights the company’s diverse range and command of Balanchine choreography. Featuring Vaslav Nijinsky’s Afternoon of a Faun, George Balanchine’s Serenade and Symphony in Three Movements, and resident choreographer Jorma Elo’s Plan to B which premiered with the company in 2004, the choreography in this program is rich with innovation. Boston Ballet Music Director and Principal Conductor Jonathan McPhee will lead the Royal Philharmonic.
The second program Boston Ballet brings to London audiences features the contemporary dynamic and versatility of the company. Program B presents three extraordinary works – William Forsythe’s The Second Detail, Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia, and Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura. Boston Ballet is the first American Company to perform Kylián’s Bella Figura. An emotional masterpiece, audiences have called Bella Figura a beautiful and artistic experience that leaves a lasting impression. Polyphonia, originally choreographed for New York City Ballet in 2001 by British choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, is as physically complex as its score. Boston Ballet dancers showcase their playful athleticism in this stripped down performance of balletin a pure form. Finally, William Forsythe’s The Second Detail set to a robust score by Thom Willems is a potent piece of kinetic energy that never fails to overpower the theatre. Each of these groundbreaking works act as a tribute to the three choreographers’ visionary talent. All three works have received high praise, applauding Boston Ballet’s ability to evolve current perceptions about ballet.
About Boston Ballet
Founded in 1963, Boston Ballet is one of the leading dance companies in the world onstage, in the studio, and in the community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Barry Hughson, Boston Ballet has developed exceptional education and community initiatives, in addition to maintaining one of the largest ballet schools in the world, Boston Ballet School.
Boston Ballet maintains a repertoire of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary works, 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 Jiří Kylián.
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
Program A
Serenade
Choreography George Balanchine© The George Balanchine Trust
Music P.I. Tchaikovsky
Costumes Karinska
Lighting Mark Stanley/JohnCuff
World Premiere: March 1, 1935, New York, NY, New York City Ballet
Boston Ballet Premiere: March 1994, Boston, MA
Approximate length: 32 minutes
Afternoon of a Faun
Choreography Vaslav Nijinsky
Music Claude Debussy
Costumes Leon Bakst
Lighting John Cuff
World Premiere: May 29, 1912, Paris, France, The Ballet Russes
Boston Ballet Premiere: May 14, 2009, Boston, MA
Approximate length: 11 minutes
Plan to B
Music Heinrich Ignaz Franzvon Biber
Choreography JormaElo
Costume Design Jorma Elo
LightingDesign JohnCuff
World Premiere: March 25, 2004, Boston, MA, Boston Ballet
Approximate length: 14 minutes
Symphony in Three Movements
Choreography George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Music Igor Stravinsky
Lighting Les Dickert
World Premiere: June 18, 1972, New York, NY, New York City Ballet
Boston Ballet Premiere: May 12, 2011, Boston, MA
Approximatel ength: 22 minutes
Program B
Bella Figura
Choreography Jiří Kylián
Music Lukas Foss
Giovanni BattistaPergolesi
AlessandraMarcello
AntonioVivaldi
Giuseppe Torelli
Set Design Jiří Kylián
Costume Design Joke Visser
Lighting Design Kees Tjebbes
Tech Adaptation Kees Tjebbes
World Premiere: October 12, 1995, The Hague, Netherlands, Netherlands Dans Theater
Boston Ballet Premiere: April 28, 2011, Boston, MA
Approximate length: 32 minutes
Polyphonia ©
Choreography Christopher Wheeldon
Music György Ligeti
CostumeDesign Holly Hynes
Lighting Design MarkStanley
World Premiere: January 4, 2001, New York, NY, New York City Ballet
Boston Ballet Premiere: March 1, 2007, Boston, MA
Approximate length: 27 minutes
The Second Detail
Music Thom Willems
Choreography William Forsythe
Stage Design William Forsythe
Costume Design Yumiko Takeshima andIssey Miyake
Lighting Design William Forsythe
World Premiere: February 10, 1991, Toronto,Canada, National Ballet of Canada
Boston Ballet Premiere: April 28, 2011, Boston, MA
Approximate length: 22 minutes
