Boston Ballet to Launch Spring Season with SWAN LAKE

Boston Ballet's spring season kicks off with Mikko Nissinen's SWAN LAKE, back by popular demand after a record-breaking world premiere in October 2014.

Described by Robert Greskovic of The Wall Street Journal as "artful" and "luminous," the timeless classical masterpiece features choreography by Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and costumes and sets by award-winning designer Robert Perdziola. Boston Ballet welcomes Gonzalo Garcia, principal dancer with New York City Ballet (NYCB), as a guest artist.

He will perform Prince Siegfried with Boston Ballet principal dancer Misa Kuranaga on April 29 and 30. Mikko Nissinen's SWAN LAKE runs April 29-May 26 at The Boston Opera House. Due to the high-ticket demand, an additional performance has been added on May 25 at 7:30 pm.

"While SWAN LAKE is more than 100 years old, it has truly timeless power and is probably the most beloved classical ballet in the world," explains Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet Artistic Director. "With so many sold out performances last season, I am thrilled to bring it back this year and to give audiences more opportunities to see SWAN LAKE and for the Company to dance it."

Mikko Nissinen's SWAN LAKE-premiered in 2014-follows the Swan Queen Odette and Prince Siegfried in a tale of romance, sorcery, and deceit. The second act, originally choreographed by Lev Ivanov, is historically considered the finest piece of classical choreography for the corps de ballet. The production is set to a luscious score by P.I. Tchaikovsky, performed by Boston Ballet Orchestra. SWAN LAKE is designer Robert Perdziola's second commission from Boston Ballet, following his highly acclaimed debut of The Nutcracker in 2012. According to Perdziola, the production's designs have "some recognizable German influences" set in the late gothic/early renaissance period. Nissinen's goal with the reimagined production was to update to meet the skills of today's dancers but remain true to the intent and impact of the original by Marius Petipa and Ivanov, which premiered in 1895 by Imperial Ballet at the Maryinsky Theatre. This season's performances will feature several debuts in new roles, shining light on the vast talent of the Company.

Gonzalo Garcia, principal dancer with New York City Ballet, joins Boston Ballet for performances on April 29 and 30. He will partner Boston Ballet principal dancer Misa Kuranaga. In the mid-1990s, Garcia became the youngest dancer to receive a gold medal at the Prix de Lausanne. He joined San Francisco Ballet in 1998, was promoted to soloist in 2000 and to principal dancer in 2002. In 2007, he joined NYCB as a principal dancer. Garcia has a longstanding relationship with Mikko Nissinen and Boston Ballet. He was a student of Nissinen's at San Francisco Ballet School in 1997 and has been invited by Nissinen to appear as a guest artist on numerous occasions: the first was when Nissinen directed the Alberta Ballet where Garcia appeared in Helgi Tomasson's "Much Ado About..." As Guest Artist with Boston Ballet, Garcia first appeared in Jerome Robbins' Other Dances and George Balanchine's Apollo, with San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer Tina LeBlanc, as part of the Company's inaugural Night of Stars in 2006. That same year, he danced in Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote with Boston Ballet principal dancer Erica Cornejo in the leading role as Basilio.

"I am thrilled to welcome Gonzalo Garcia back to Boston for the performances of SWAN LAKE to partner Misa Kuranaga as Odette/Odile. This will be a dynamic duo!" Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet Artistic Director states, "I have a long history with Gonzalo, from back in his student days. He is a gifted and beautiful dancer and I have great respect for him as an artist. Thank you to Peter Martins for making it possible for Gonzalo to perform with Boston Ballet."

Boston Ballet dedicates these performances of SWAN LAKE to the memory of former Artistic Director Violette Verdy (1933-2016), a legendary and beloved star of the dance world.

All performances of SWAN LAKE take place at the Boston Opera House (539 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111):

Friday, April 29, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Thursday, May 5, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Sunday, May 8, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Friday, May 13, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Friday, May 20, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 7:30 pm

New scheduling format: SWAN LAKE will run in conjunction with Boston Ballet's mixed repertory program, Mirrors, during the month of May at the Boston Opera House. Visit bostonballet.org for a complete schedule of Boston Ballet performances this spring.

Tickets start at $35. For more information, visit www.bostonballet.org or call 617-695-6955.

SWAN LAKE performance length is 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.

Music: P.I. Tchaikovsky

Choreography: Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with additional choreography by Mikko Nissinen

Set and Costume Design: Robert Perdziola

Lighting Design: Mark Stanley

Projection Design: Seághan McKay

Assistant for Act III Character Dances: Alla Nikitina

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

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director 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.

Programming for Boston Ballet's 2015-2016 season includes Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler: A Ballet by John Neumeier, making Boston Ballet the first North American Company to perform the work; captivating classical works such as John Cranko's Onegin and Mikko Nissinen's SWAN LAKE; masterpieces by world-renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine and 20th century masters Leonid Yakobson and Léonide Massine; and two highly anticipated world premieres by Karole Armitage and Yury Yanowsky.

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 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 6,000 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, please visit www.bostonballet.org.

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