Boston Ballet to Open 2017-18 Season with OBSIDIAN TEAR

Boston Ballet's 2017-2018 season opens with Obsidian Tear, featuring the North American premiere of Wayne McGregor's Obsidian Tear, a co-production with The Royal Ballet of London, and a world premiere by Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo.

The program includes music by two acclaimed Finnish composers, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jean Sibelius, and will open with an orchestral performance of Sibelius' tone poem masterpiece Finlandia. Daniel Stewart, music director of the Santa Cruz Symphony, was hand-selected by Salonen to serve as guest conductor.

Obsidian Tear runs Nov 3-12, 2017, at the Boston Opera House.

"When designing the program, I realized the composers were the most prominent Finnish composers, and it was the 100th anniversary of Finnish independence. What better way to honor great creativity and music?" said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. "I am excited to bring Wayne's exhilarating work to Boston, particularly because the music is by one of my national heroes, Esa-Pekka Salonen. It's a great honor to partner with The Royal Ballet on this exciting premiere-our first ever co-production for Boston Ballet and The Royal Ballet. I'm also pleased to present another world premiere by Jorma Elo set to Sibelius' Fifth Symphony that's sure to be a thrilling experience."

A raw and powerful work for an ensemble of nine men, Obsidian Tear was inspired by its score: world-renowned composer Esa-Pekka Salonen's Lachen verlernt, a piercing, melancholy solo for violin, and his nihilistic tone-poem Nyx (a reference to the mysterious Greek goddess of night).

"I have always enjoyed the unrivalled dynamic range of a large symphony orchestra, but Nyx seems to take a somewhat new direction from my earlier orchestral music: there are many very delicate and light textures, chiaroscuro instead of details bathing in clear direct sunlight. I guess this is symptomatic of growing older as we realize there are no simple truths, no pure blacks and whites but an endless variety of half shades," said Salonen.

Obsidian Tear premiered May 28, 2016, in London, and is Boston Ballet's first co-production with The Royal Ballet. The title is deliberately ambiguous and can be pronounced either "tear" as in crying, or "tear" as in ripping. McGregor, The Royal Ballet's resident choreographer, is world-renowned for his highly inventive, dynamic choreography and multidisciplinary collaborations. He designed the sets and asked Katie Shillingford, fashion editor for AnOther Magazine, to curate the clothing worn by the dancers-the first time a ballet has been "styled" instead of "costumed." Obsidian Tear will be the second of McGregor's works in Boston Ballet's repertoire; his ballet Chroma was performed in 2013 and 2015 to rave reviews.

"Because of the power of the music I wanted to do something that is extremely brutal on stage - very raw and not very technological at all," said McGregor. "At particular moments, I want meaning to be readily accessible, but at other times remote. I want the audience to navigate an individual journey through those moments because that reflects our experience of living. We don't 'understand' everything all of the time. We don't live in concreteness."

The program concludes with Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius, a world premiere by Boston Ballet Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo set to the famed Finnish composer's majestic score. Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius marks the first time Elo couples an entire symphonic piece with the full Company to create a stunning experience of sight and sound.

"Creating a ballet on the full Company, to a score by an inspiration and compatriot of mine, is a remarkable experience," said Elo. "There is so much talent in the Company, so the process has been collaborative and very energizing for all of us."

Yumiko Takeshima, former Dutch National Ballet dancer and founder of Yumiko dancewear, designed the costumes, and New York City Ballet Resident Lighting Designer Mark Stanley designed the lighting.

Finnish-born Elo was appointed Boston Ballet's resident choreographer in 2005. He has created 14 works for the Company, all of which were world premieres, including Bach Cello Suites and Creatures of Egmont.

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PROGRAM:

Guest Conductor: Daniel Stewart

Finlandia

Composer: Jean Sibelius

Boston Ballet Orchestra

Obsidian Tear

North American Premiere

Choreography: Wayne McGregor

Music: Esa-Pekka Salonen,

Lachen verlernt and Nyx

Scenic Design: Wayne McGregor

Fashion Director: Katie Shillingford

Lighting Design: Lucy Carter

Lighting Recreation: Mike Smith

Dramaturg: Uzma Hameed

Stager: Amanda Eyles, using a Benesh Movement Notation score

Solo Violin: Christine Vitale

Obsidian Tear is a co-production between The Royal Ballet and Boston Ballet.

Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius

World Premiere

Music: Jean Sibelius

Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82

Choreography: Jorma Elo

Scenic Design: Jorma Elo

Costume Design: Yumiko Takeshima

Lighting Design: Mark Stanley

All performances of Obsidian Tear take place at the Boston Opera House (539 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02111):

Friday, Nov 3 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, Nov 4 at 1:30 pm

Saturday, Nov 4 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, Nov 5 at 1:30 pm

Wednesday, Nov 8 at 7:30 pm*

Thursday, Nov 9 at 7:30 pm

Friday, Nov 10 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, Nov 11 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, Nov 12 at 1:30 pm

* indicates post-show talk with artists

Tickets start at $35. For more information, visit bostonballet.org or call 617.695.6955.

Obsidian Tear is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes with one intermission.

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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 54-year history of promoting excellence and access to dance.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Meredith Max Hodges, the Company maintains a diverse repertoire, ranging from full-length 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 School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to providing exceptional dance education and ballet training to students across three studios in Boston, Newton, and the North Shore. Led by Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Director Margaret Tracey, the School reaches more than 5,000 students (toddler to adult) each year through its four core programs: Children's Program, Classical Ballet Program, Adult Dance Program, and Pre-Professional Program.

Boston Ballet's Department of Education and Community Initiatives (ECI) provides programming, events, and activities that connect the community to dance. ECI reaches more than 4,000 individuals in Boston, North Shore, and the surrounding communities each year through Citydance, ECI on Location, Adaptive Dance, and other community programs.

For more information, visit bostonballet.org.

Pictured: Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Edward Watson and Soloist Eric Underwood in Wayne McGregor's Obsidian Tear. Photo by Andrej Uspenski, courtesy The Royal Ballet.