Jun 4, 2010: Boston Ballet returned to Spain in 2010 embarking on a five-week tour to various regions of the country, including San Sebastían, Santander, Granada, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Company presented performances of two programs, Ultimate Balanchine and Made in Boston. The tour repertoire, showcasing the versatility and artistry of Boston Ballet, included George Balanchine’s, Ballo della Regina, The Four Temperaments and Rubies, Jorma Elo’s Plan to B and Brake the Eyes, Sabrina Matthews’ ein von viel, Helen Pickett’s Tsukiyo, and Viktor Plotnikov’s Rhyme. Boston Ballet fans back home in Boston were able to follow the tour through bi-weekly videos posted on the Company’s website.
Apr 28, 2011: Boston Ballet became the first American Company to perform Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura. Mikko Nissinen called the work, which first premiered on October 12, 1995 in The Hague, Netherlands, “an incredible piece of art that will linger with you long beyond the final curtain.” Boston Ballet performed the piece as part of several different programs both at home and abroad since its American debut, most recently in 2014 as part of the celebratory 50th year.
Sep 8, 2012: Boston Ballet made its debut in Helsinki, Finland, presenting two sold out performances highlighting the company’s dramatic and diverse repertoire at the Finnish National Opera House. The tour received an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences and critics alike. Boston Ballet Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo joined the company on tour. Natives of Finland, Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Jorma Elo are alumni of the Finnish National Ballet School where they first met and studied together.
Boston Ballet’s visit to Finland was sponsored by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.
Nov 23, 2012: Boston Ballet presented the world premiere of Mikko Nissinen’s THE NUTCRACKER. Nearly 95,000 people attended performances of the beloved classic during the first season. The re-imaged version of the classic story featured exquisite sets and costumes by award-winning designer Robert Perdziola. This was the first collaboration between Perdziola and Boston Ballet.
Jul 3, 2013: Boston Ballet returned to the London Coliseum for the first time in 30 YEARS. The Company performed two programs showcasing the ballet’s dynamic repertoire. The tour was a success with critics and audiences alike. The Londonist called Boston Ballet “a company on top form…” and Judith Mackrell of The Guardian proclaimed “With a cast dominated by the ferociously fast and precise Jeffrey Cirio, the choreography is lifted to a pitch of joyous, near-spontaneous exultation.”
Sep 21, 2013: Boston Ballet welcomed nearly 55,000 people to Boston Common for the first-ever Night of Stars on Boston Common. The free community performance highlighted pieces from the company’s diverse repertoire, including George Balanchine’s Serenade and Symphony in Three Movements, Jorma Elo’s Plan to B, and excerpts from Marius Petipa’s Don Quixote, Florence Clerc’s La Bayadère, and Christopher Bruce’s Rooster and the world premiere of Viktor Plotnikov’s Swan. Boston Ballet dancers performed on the largest stage ever built on the Common. In honor of the event, the City of Boston named September 21, 2013 “Boston Ballet Day.”
Feb 20, 2014: Boston Ballet became the first American company to commission a piece from José Martinez, former Paris Opera Étoile and current director of the Spanish National Ballet. Resonance premiered on February 20, 2014 alongside Jorma Elo’s C. to C. (Close to Chuck) Reborn, and Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura. Karen Campbell of the Boston Globe called the premiere a “major event” and stated “[Lia] Cirio and Lasha Khozashvili stood out in an emotionally charged yet classically restrained duet of romantic sweep.”
