The Boston Ballet Presents LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS, 2/26-3/8

Boston Ballet's 51st season continues with the return of Val Caniparoli's transfixing ballet, Lady of the Camellias: a tragic love story that has stood the test of time. The production is set to the brilliant music of Chopin, and will be performed by the Boston Ballet Orchestra. Lady of the Camellias will run from February 26 - March 8th at the Boston Opera House.

"Lady of the Camellias is one of the great dramatic ballets in existence today," said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. "With a score by Chopin and several stunningly romantic pas de deux, Val Caniparoli's version is intoxicating; the drama transports you."

Written by Alexander Dumas, the novel La Dame aux Camelias was published in 1848 Paris. Since then, the tragic story of the courtesan Marguerite and her lover, Armand, has captured audiences with its heartbreaking and compelling tale of love, redemption, and loss. More than 16 different stage adaptations have been performed across theaters in Paris, London, and Broadway since 1852. The story inspired Guiseppe Verdi's famed opera La Traviata (1853), and has been the subject for many films including Camille starring Greta Garbo (1936) and the blockbuster Moulin Rouge (2001).

Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias was created in 1994 and was first performed by Boston Ballet in 2004. Twenty years after the premiere, this beloved version still resonates with audiences. Paired vividly with the captivating music of Chopin and elaborately detailed costumes by Robert Glay de La Rose, Caniparoli uses the emotion as well as the physicality of the dancers to stage this tragic tale. The ballet includes seven challenging and moving pas de deux that twist and turn the characters as turbulently as their own destiny.

Four couples will perform the lead roles of the alluringly tragic lovers, Marguerite and Armand: Kathleen Breen Combes with Yury Yanowsky; Erica Cornejo with Lasha Khozashvili; Ashley Ellis with Sabi Varga; and Anais Chalendard with Eris Nezha. These poignant roles are as demanding emotionally as they are technically. Boston Ballet's dancers will exhibit the full range of artistry this epic and romantic story ballet requires.

"As a dancer there is nothing to hide behind," said choreographer Caniparoli. "You have to hold the audience's attention by your acting ability and musicality. It is incredible coming back to work on Lady of the Camellias with Boston Ballet, the company is even better than it was before...and it was incredible then."

Follow these links for a closer look at the history, synopsis, character descriptions, and choreographer biography.

All performances of Lady of the Camellias will take place at the Boston Opera House:

Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 7:30PM

Friday, February 27, 2015 at 7:30PM

Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 1:00PM and 7:30PM; Post-Performance Chat with Mikko Nissinen following 7:30PM performance

Sunday, March 1, 2015 at 1:00PM

Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 7:30PM

Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 7:30PM

Friday, March 6, 2015 at 7:30PM

Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 1:00PM and 7:30PM; Pre-Curtain Talk prior to 7:30PM performance

Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 1:00PM

Tickets start at $29. For more information, visit www.bostonballet.org or call 617-695-6955.

About Boston Ballet

Since 1963, Boston Ballet's internationally acclaimed performances of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary ballets, combined with a dedication to world class dance education and community initiative programs, have made the institution a leader in its field, with a 50+ year history of promoting excellence and access to dance.

The Company began a new chapter with record breaking performances of Mikko Nissinen's Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, on the heels of a monumental 50th season that included tours to The London Coliseum, Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, and New York's David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. The historic year began in Boston with the first ever Night of Stars on Boston Common, a free performance that attracted more than 55,000 audience members.

Programming for Boston Ballet's 2014-2015 season includes stunning classics such as Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, neo-classical masterpieces by George Balanchine, and contemporary works by cutting-edge choreographers such as Wayne McGregor, William Forsythe, and Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Max Hodges, the Company maintains a diverse repertoire, 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 dancers who gain experience by performing with the Company and independently, presenting special programs to audiences throughout the Northeast.

Boston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following institutional partners:

Barr Foundation

The Boston Foundation

Massachusetts Cultural Council