Three of George Balanchine’s greatest masterpieces take the stage in Boston Ballet’s Ultimate Balanchine, presented at The Boston Opera House May 6 – 16. The program includes The Four Temperaments, Apollo, and Theme and Variations.
“Ultimate Balanchine is a very challenging and exciting program. To have these three magnificent ballets together is really special,” said Nissinen. “They represent the three different genres of Balanchine’s styles, from his pure classical roots to the innovative, modern aesthetic that revolutionized American dance. The Four Temperaments is one of the finest examples of his black and white ballets. Apollo marked the initial and pivotal collaboration between Balanchine and Igor Stravinsky, which became a life-long artistic partnership. Theme and Variations is Balanchine’s own tribute to his heritage and the imperial Russian ballet. The program is so musically satisfying; it will be a fantasy concert for the audience.”
The Four Temperaments, choreographed in 1946, was the season-opening performance for Ballet Society, which later became New York City Ballet. The ballet is one of Balanchine’s earliest works that experiments with a fusion of traditional and contemporary movement. This style became Balanchine’s signature invention and a new language in dance. The work is divided into themes: Melancholic, Sanguinic, Phlegmatic and Choleric, which reflect the principles of the four classical elements: earth, air, water, and fire. The Four Temperaments features a driving score by Paul Hindemith, commissioned by Balanchine and completed in 1940. In summer 2007, Boston Ballet toured The Four Temperaments before international audiences in Spain receiving critical acclaim, and most recently in the fall 2007 Night of Stars.
Balanchine choreographed Apollo in 1928 at the age of 24 for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Apollo, set to Stravinsky’s score, marked the beginning of a lasting and significant relationship between the two artists. Balanchine considered Apollo a major milestone in his life, as it related to the beginning of a career of international stature and a fruitful partnership with Stravinsky. The work centers on the young god of music who is visited by three muses: Calliope, Muse of poetry; Polyhymnia, Muse of mime; and Terpsichore, Muse of dance and song.
Theme and Variations, set to Tchaikovsky, received its premiere in 1947. A spectacular, glittering work, Theme and Variations evokes the purity and beauty of the classics in its choreography and interplay with Tchaikovsky’s score. The ballet has a masterpiece, central pas de deux and a cast of 26 dancers that join on stage in a grande finale.
Boston Ballet continues to develop and expand its Balanchine repertoire, which includes the complete Jewels, Prodigal Son, Serenade, Ballo della Regina, Monumentum pro Gesualdo, Movements for Piano & Orchestra, Duo Concertant, Divertimento No. 15, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and La Valse, among others. Most recently, Boston Ballet has been hailed by The New York Times for its 2009 production of Jewels, and by The Ottawa Citizen for the Company’s performance of Ballo della Regina while on tour in Ottawa, Canada in January 2010.
Ultimate Balanchine
May 6-16, 2010
The Four Temperaments
Music: Paul Hindemith
Choreography: George Balanchine
Apollo
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Theme and Variations
Music: Peter Ilych Tchiakovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
View footage from Ultimate Balanchine:
www.bostonballet.org/explorebb/videos/ultimate-balanchine.html
2009-2010 Season Tickets
Spring season tickets are on sale now. All 2009-2010 tickets may be purchased through Boston Ballet by phone at 617.695.6955 or in person at the box office at 19 Clarendon Street, Boston, Mon–Fri, 9am-5pm, Sat, 11am-6pm (Sat hours Sept–May only), and performance days only on Sun, 11am – 4pm (or 6pm for The Nutcracker) . Subscriptions and all tickets will be available for sales online 24 hours a day at www.bostonballet.org. Prices for season ballets start at $25. Discounted group tickets (10 or more for season ballets) are available by calling Boston Ballet’s Group Sales at 617.456.6343. Contact the Boston Ballet Box Office at 617.695.6955 or visit www.bostonballet.org for details.
About Boston Ballet
Since 1963, Boston Ballet has been one of the leading dance companies in the world on stage, in the studio and in the community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Barry Hughson, the Company maintains an internationally acclaimed repertoire and the largest ballet school in North America, Boston Ballet School.
Boston Ballet maintains a repertoire of classical, neo-classical and contemporary works, ranging from full-length story ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers. Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is comprised of pre-professional dancers who gain experience by performing with the Company and independently, presenting lecture-demonstrations and special programs to audiences throughout the Northeast.
Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to excellence and access and reaches more than 10,000 students ages 2-adult each year through Boston Ballet School classes, Summer Dance Workshop, Summer Dance Program, Citydance, Taking Steps, and Adaptive Dance. The wide array of dance programs are held at three studio locations in Boston, Newton, and Marblehead with additional programs throughout New England, as well as community centers and in Boston Public Schools.
For more information, visit www.bostonballet.org
Boston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following institutional partners:
State Street Corporation, 2010 Presenting Sponsor, The Nutcracker
Jane’s Trust
Massachusetts Cultural Council
National Endowment for the Arts
Boston Organ & Piano, Official Piano Supplier of Boston Ballet
