Orchestra Prelude
The Firebird: Suite (1919 version)

Infernal Dance; Finale

COMPOSER Igor Stravinsky

CONDUCTOR Mischa Santora

Boston Ballet Orchestra

Run time: 8 minutes

Cacti

CHOREOGRAPHY and SCENIC DESIGN Alexander Ekman
MUSIC
Improvisations on Franz Schubert’s String Quartet No. 14
Franz Schubert
Symphony in D minor, “Death and the Maiden”, IV. Presto (arr. Andy Stein)
Franz Joseph Haydn
The Seven Last Words of Christ, Sonata V: Sitio
String Quartet, Op. 9 No. 6: IV. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet, Op. 59 No. 3, C major: II. Andante con moto quasi Allegretto
LIGHTING and SCENIC DESIGN Tom Visser
COSTUME DESIGN Alexander Ekman
TEXT Spenser Theberge
STAGING Joseph Kudra

World Premiere
February 25, 2010; Netherlands Dans Theater 2, The Hague, The Netherlands
Boston Ballet Premiere
May 8, 2014, The Boston Opera House, Boston, Massachusetts

CONDUCTOR Mischa Santora
Boston Ballet Orchestra
ANDUIN QUARTET
Josh Knowles, violin
Rachel Lanskey, violin
Anna Stromer, viola
Eric Law, cello

MARÍA ÁLVAREZ   KATIE CERNY
SEO HYE HAN*   CAROLINE HARUKI
ALEXANDRIA HEATH   SAGE HUMPHRIES
MADOKA SUGAI   DAYEON YEOM

FINN DUGGAN   HENRY GRIFFIN
WESLEY MILLER   RAFAEL QUENEDIT*
DANIEL RUBIN   YUE SHI
SCHUYLER WIJSEN   SAMUEL YUAN

*pas de deux

Run time: 32 minutes

This production of Alexander Ekman’s Cacti is a co-production between Boston Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and Atlanta Ballet.

20 MINUTE INTERMISSION

Vertical Road (Reimagined) 2023

DIRECTION and CHOREOGRAPHY Akram Khan
MUSIC Aditya Prakash Foretelling (Prologue)
Nitin Sawhney Vertical Road (group piece)
SET CONCEIVED BY Akram Khan, Kimie Nakano, Jesper Kongshaug
COSTUME DESIGN Kimie Nakano
ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGN Jesper Kongshaug
LIGHTING RECREATION Richard Fagan
DRAMATURG Ruth Little
STAGING Anjuli Cirio, John Lam
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER Craig Margolis

World Premiere
October 5, 2023, Boston Ballet, Citizens Opera House, Boston, Massachusetts

JEFFREY CIRIO   TYSON ALI CLARK
PAUL CRAIG   NATALIA CARDONA
KYLIE DYSON   SOPHIA JONES
ABIGAIL MERLIS   LAWRENCE RINES MUNRO
LAYLA PORTER   ALAINAH GRACE REIDY
HALEY SCHWAN   SPENCER WETHERINGTON
PATRICK YOCUM

Run time: 34 minutes

Content Advisory: Cacti and Vertical Road (Reimagined) 2023 contain adult themes.
Please Note: The music in some ballets may be loud depending on where you are sitting and your individual comfort level. Cacti contains repeated flashing and abrupt lighting changes that may be challenging for audience members with light sensitivities. Approximately 13 minutes into the ballet, there is a sequence of repeated flashing that lasts about 50 seconds.

With Appreciation

Boston Ballet is grateful to the Catalyst Fund, with major support from the Abrams Foundation.

The performances of Fall Experience have been made possible by a generous gift from Marie and Mark Schwartz.
This production of Akram Khan’s Vertical Road (Reimagined) 2023 is generously supported by the Mikko Nissinen Artistic Fund.