ÜNI

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With thanks to Jim and the late Virginia Aisner for their support of ÜNI public art pop-ups. 

ÜNI concept by Mikko Nissinen, Denise Korn, and Deborah Moe,
created in collaboration with MASARY Studios.

EXPLORE THE FILMS

BALLET FILMS 

RENAISSANCE PAINTING
Enjoy choreography from Nanine Linning created specifically for ÜNI.
Get up close to the art and witness the raw emotion of dancers Lia Cirio, Lawrence Rines Munro, and My’Kal Stromile. Filmed by Ernesto Galan. Editing and sound score by MASARY Studios.
 

BLAKE WORKS III (THE BARRE PROJECT)
William Forsythe returns to Boston with the dynamic and masterful ballet, Blake Works III (The Barre Project). This work pushes our art form into new territory yet again. The masterpiece was created for Boston Ballet in 2022 and is set to the propulsive and beautifully structured music of composer James Blake. An absolute powerhouse of dance, it is riveting to watch Boston Ballet dancers master Forsythe’s challenging and innovative technique.  

CHOREOGRAPHY  William Forsythe
MUSIC  James Blake***
LIGHTING DESIGN  Brandon Stirling Baker
COSTUME DESIGN  William Forsythe and Howard Merlin,  Tiler Peck Designs for Body Wrappers
ASSISTANT TO THE CHOREOGRAPHER  Jodie Gates
 WORLD PREMIERE  May 5, 2022, Boston Ballet, Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, USA

HALEY SCHWAN, BENJI PEARSON,
JI YOUNG CHAE, DEREK DUNN, DANIEL DURRETT, MY’KAL STROMILE  

The world premiere of William Forsythe’s Blake Works III (The Barre Project) has been made possible by a generous gift from the Lisa and Tom Blumenthal Artistic Innovation Fund.

*** All songs written by James Blake Litherland (PRS) and performed by James Blake. “200 Press,” published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Limited (GMR). Courtesy of 1-800-Dinosaur. “Buzzard & Kestrel,” published by Universal Music Publishing Group (GMR) and Buzzard and Kestrel LTD (ASCAP). Courtesy of Hessle Audio. “Lindisfarne I,” published by Universal Music Publishing Group (GMR). Courtesy of Universal Music Operations Ltd. “Lullaby for My Insomniac,” published by Sony Smash Hits Music Publishing (GMR). Courtesy of Universal Music Operations Ltd. 

ZOOM IN
Feel as if you’re sharing the stage with Boston Ballet dancers in this virtual reality performance. Filmed for a 360-degree view, the dancers surround you with impressive and bold movements, choreographed by Ken Ossola. He and the dancers adapted to a new innovative working technique, rehearsing together through Zoom as Ossola choreographed from Europe. 

CHOREOGRAPHY + FILM DIRECTION  Ken Ossola
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY + EDITOR   Ernesto Galan 

MARĺA ÁLVAREZ, TYSON CLARK, PAUL CRAIG, CHYRSTYN FENTROY, JOHN LAM, NINA MATIASHVILI, TIGRAN MKRTCHYAN, ALEC ROBERTS, HALEY SCHWAN, PATRICK YOCUM

 COSTUME DESIGN  Ken Ossola in collaboration with Lisa Dezmelyk
SET DESIGN  Benjamin J. Phillips
LIGHTING DESIGN  Brandon Stirling Baker
FIRST ASSISTANT CAMERA  Paul Speziale
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER  Craig Margolis
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS  Brian Pitcher + Karen McConarty
HEAD CARPENTER  Michael Quigg
ASSISTANT CARPENTER/FLMAN  Devin Higgins
PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN  Jon Gonda
ASSISTANT ELECTRICIAN  Kurt Illinger
DECK ELECTRICIAN  Lauren Scattolini
HEAD PROPERTIES  Robert Siders
TECHNICAL COORDINATOR  Jason Helias
TRANSPORTATION  Troiani & Sons
Chain motors provided by JCALPRO
 SOUNDTRACK  “Fratres” by Arvo Pärt*
Performed by Gidon Kremer, violin and Keith Jarrett, piano
*By arrangement with European American Music and Universal Music Group  

The premiere of Zoom In, choreographed and directed by Ken Ossola, is generously supported by First Republic Bank. 

LA VOIX HUMAINE
“Written by Jean Cocteau in 1928 and set to music by French composer Francis Poulenc in 1958, La Voix Humaine gives an insight into the heart and mind of a woman having a final phone conversation with her lover who is leaving her for someone else. In her isolation, solitude, desperation, and despair, she must deal with letting her beloved go. Themes of isolation, letting go of a loved one, and farewell resonate with me and many of us in the times we live in.”–Nanine Linning  

CONCEPT, CHOREOGRAPHY & FILM DIRECTION  Nanine Linning
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY & EDITOR  Ernesto Galan 

JI YOUNG CHAE
DEREK DUNN, LASHA KHOZASHVILI, RYAN KWASNIEWSKI, SOO-BIN LEE, MOLLY NOVAK, BENJI PEARSON, LAWRENCE RINES MUNRO,
MY’KAL STROMILE, PAULINA WASKI, NATIONS WILKES-DAVIS

COSTUME DESIGN  Shane Maxwell + Erica Desautels
HAIR DESIGN  Rachel Padula-Shufelt
SET DESIGN  Benjamin J. Phillips
LIGHTING DESIGN  Brandon Stirling Baker
FIRST ASSISTANT CAMERA  Paul Speziale
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT  Brian Pitcher
REHEARSAL DIRECTOR  Russell Kaiser
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER  Craig Margolis
CREATIVE PRODUCTION  Kristin Carr
HEAD CARPENTER Michael Quigg
ASSISTANT CARPENTER/FLYMAN  Devin Higgins
PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN  Jon Gonda
ASSISTANT ELECTRICIAN  Kurt Illinger
DECK ELECTRICIAN  Lauren Scattolini
HEAD PROPERTIES  Robert Siders
TECHNICAL COORDINATOR  Jason Helias
TRANSPORTATION  Troiani & Sons
Chain motors provided by JCALPRO
MUSIC  “La Voix Humaine” from Francis Poulenc with text by Jean Cocteau.
Original recording of La Voix Humaine, 1959, with Soprano Denise Duval and Orchestre National de l’Opera-Comique, conducted by Georges Pretre.*
*By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes and Warner Music Group 

The premiere of La Voix Humaine, choreographed and directed by Nanine Linning, is generously supported by the
Krupp Endowment for Contemporary Dance. 

Special thanks to Peggy Olislaegers, Kyle Patrick, the Poulenc Estate, Thomas Guggi and Patrick Marin. 

DEVIL’S/EYE
“My goal was to make a ballet that’s both fun to dance and fun to look at—something that would have audiences dancing through the aisles—and I think we did that. You’re not used to hearing rock and roll in this context. DEVIL’S/eye invites audiences to experience music by The Rolling Stones in a new way, and perhaps appreciate their songs even more.”
— Stephen Galloway 

CHOREOGRAPHER  Stephen Galloway 
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY + EDITOR  Ernesto Galan 

LIA CIRIO + PATRIC PALKENS       CHYRSTYN FENTROY + TIGRAN MKRTCHYAN       CHISAKO OGA + JOHN LAM
HALEY SCHWAN + GEARÓID SOLAN 

TYSON CLARK, DANIEL COOPER, DANIEL DURRETT, LOUISE HAUTEFEUILLE, SAGE HUMPHRIES, NIKOLIA MAMALAKIS, ABIGAIL MERLIS,
BENJI PEARSON, LAWRENCE RINES MUNRO, ADDIE TAPP, AO WANG, SCHUYLER WIJSEN 

MUSIC  “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by The Rolling Stones*
COSTUME DESIGN  Stephen Galloway
LIGHTING DESIGN  Brandon Stirling Baker 
REHEARSAL DIRECTOR  Russell Kaiser
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER  Craig Margolis
STAGE MANAGER  Heather Olcott
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER  Sarah Bord
HEAD CARPENTER  Michael Quigg
ASSISTANT CARPENTER/FLYMAN  Devin Higgins
PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN  Jon Gonda
ASSISSTANT ELECTRICIAN  Kurt Illinger
DECK ELECTRICIAN  Lauren Scattolini
HEAD PROPERTIES  Robert Siders
TECHNICAL COORDINATOR  Jason Helias
TRANSPORTATION  Troiani & Sons
Chain motors provided by JCALPRO 

The world premiere of DEVIL’S/eye, choreographed by Stephen Galloway, has been made possible by generous gifts from a Commissioners Circle including Amy and David Abrams, Leslie and Howard Appleby, Warren and Mary Naphtal, Alison and Frank Quirk, and D. Ellen Wilson. 

 *Performed by The Rolling Stones; Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; Published by ABKCO Music, Inc;
Courtesy of ABKCO Music & Records, Inc; www.abko.com 

60TH SEASON SPOTLIGHT
Abstract movement in black and white inspired by Boston Ballet’s 2023-2024 season. Filmed by Ernesto Galan.

JEFFREY CIRIO, VIKTORINA KAPITONOVA, TIGRAN MKRTCHYAN, TYSON CLARK, CHYRSTYN FENTROY, SANGMIN LEE, ADDIE TAPP, LASHA KHOZASHVILI, MARÍA ÁLVAREZ, DEREK DUNN, JOHN LAM, DANIEL DURRETT

LA MER
“At the heart of La Mer is the theme of oceans. I wanted to create scenes that address sirens as a metaphor for our behavior of greed, deep sea mining, dead zones, and oil spills, as well as pristine oceans and extraordinary natural forces. My goal with this ballet was to create a new world where video, set, and light fully merge with dance and music.”– Nanine Linning

CONCEPT, CREATION, CHOREOGRAPHY  Nanine Linning
MUSIC  La Mer and Nocturnes: III. Sirènes by Claude Debussy
SOUND COMPOSITIONS  Yannis Kyriakides
DRAMATURGY  Peggy Olislaegers
COSTUME DESIGN  Yuima Nakazato
VIDEO SCENOGRAPHY  Heleen Blanken
LIGHTING DESIGN  Brandon Stirling Baker
STAGE DESIGN  Benjamin Phillips
CHOIR  Lorelei Ensemble, Beth Willer, Artistic Director
SOUNDSCAPE SOPRANO  Kristia Michael
WORLD PREMIERE  April 6, 2023, Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston, MA

JEFFREY CIRIO, JI YOUNG CHAE, SAGE HUMPHRIES, SOO-BIN LEE, MARÍA ÁLVAREZ, DANIEL RUBIN, LAWRENCE RINES MUNRO,
MY’KAL STROMILE, ÁNGEL GARCÍA MOLINERO, TYSON CLARK, VIKTORINA KAPITONOVA, DANIEL DURRETT, MATTHEW BATES

Nanine Linning’s world premiere La Mer has been made possible by generous gifts from a Commissioners Circle, including Lisa and Tom Blumenthal, the Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Lori M. Heinel, and Brynja Vifilsdottir and Hannes Smarason. Additional support has been granted by the Dutch Culture USA program of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New York. 

Boston Ballet is grateful for support from the Liberty Mutual Foundation’s Climate Resiliency Initiative to incentivize climate consciousness and action. Special thank you to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.  

DISCOVERING LA MER
“The ocean connects and sustains everyone and every living part of the planet. Collaborating with Boston Ballet offers an exciting new way to convey that message, as well as the fact that, although the ocean faces many threats, it is also a rich source of inspiration, hope, and of solutions to many of our most pressing challenges.”
– Peter de Menocal, WHOI President and Director

Docuseries produced by
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY  Ernesto Galan at Scalped Productions 
EDITORS
Daniel Latimer at Bearwalk Cinema
Brian Tortora at Bearwalk Cinema
Daniela Goncalves at Bearwalk Cinema
CREATIVE PRODUCERS
Deborah Moe at Boston Ballet
Kristin Carr at Boston Ballet
ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
Daniela Goncalves at Bearwalk Cinema
Premices Films
 PRODUCTION ASSISTANT  Rachel Ketterer at Boston Ballet  

Boston Ballet is deeply grateful to the supporters of La Mer, with deepest appreciation to the Commissioners Circle: Lisa and Tom Blumenthal, Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Lori M. Heinel, Brynja Vifilsdottir and Hannes Smárason 

IN COLLABORATION WITH
WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION

SNOW SCENE FROM THE NUTCRACKER 
Filmed for a 360 degree view, watch the snowflakes surround you as you jump inside the iconic Snow Scene from Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker Prince invites Clara to join him on a journey through the Magical Forest after she saves him from the evil Mouse King. Clara and the Prince meet the Snow Queen & King and their dancing snowflakes, and continue on their journey to the Kingdom of the Sweets.  

CHOREOGRAPHY  Mikko Nissinen
VIDEOGRAPHY + EDITING  Ernesto Galan
 MUSIC  P.I. Tchaikovsky
 SET AND COSTUME DESIGN  Robert Perdziola 

SNOW KING & QUEEN
JEFFREY CIRIO & JI YOUNG CHAE 

 SNOWFLAKES
Crystal Serrano, Louise Hautefeuille,  Abby Merlis, Nina Matiashvili, Lauren Herfindahl, Demi Trezona, Kyra Muttilainen,
Alainah Grace Reidy,  Sage Humphries, Brooke Wilson 

VIDEO ART BY 

MASARY Studios
MASARY is a transdisciplinary artist collective reconsidering environments through site-specific installations using sound, light, interactivity and performance. Founded in 2015, the group is based in Fort Point, Boston. The group’s work on ÜNI with Boston Ballet includes additional creative and technical assistance from Jenny Oliver, Justin Keith, Ari Weinkle, Rae Occhipinti, Kyle Stetson, and John Escobar. 

VECTOR DANCE
A study of movement by connecting the medium of painting to the gesture of dance.

MEMBRANE
This audio-visual artwork explores the idea of a portal, as experiencing it might transport the viewer from one dance piece to the next.

PARTICLE COLLIDER
An investigation into hyper-synchronized sound and movement. The sound score is intimately connecting to the movement, direction and gravitational forces of the particles on screen.
 

HELEEN BLANKEN
Art created for the stage performance of Nanine Linning’s La Mer.

SIRENES | OIL SPILL | WAVES

MUSIC  La Mer and Nocturnes: III. Sirènes by Claude Debussy
SOUND COMPOSITIONS  Yannis Kyriakides
CHOIR  Lorelei Ensemble, Beth Willer, Artistic Director
SOUNDSCAPE SOPRANO  Kristia Michael

 Heleen Blanken is a visual artist who lives and works in Amsterdam. She levitates across the fields of installation art, new media, cinematography, scenography, and sculpture.  

Influenced by the complex exchange between humanity and the natural environment, her artistic practice explores the different layers of our aesthetic perception of the natural world while defining traditional artistic dichotomies like the organic vs. artificial and analog vs. digital. In her work, she raises questions on how we contemplate ideas of nature.