Night of Stars-2010-Boston Ballet

October 23, 2010-Opening Night Gala 

Mikko Nissinen

Artistic Director 

Johnathan McPhee

Music Director and Principal Conductor

Misa Kuranaga and James Whiteside in Theme and Variations, choreography by George Balanchine-Photo by Gene Schiavone-from the Boston Ballet Blog.

It was a spectacular, sparkling evening of selections from the classical and contemporary ballet program in the forthcoming Boston Ballet's 2010-2011 Season.  The audience showed their enthusiam and appreciation with thunderous and sustained applause!

The Program:

The Kingdom of Shades (Excerpt from La Bayadère, Act III)
        Music: Ludwig Minkus
        Choreography: Florence Clerc after Marius Petipa

Tarantella
         Music: Louis Moreau Gottschalk
         Choreography: George Balanchine

Layli O Majnun
          Music: Arvo Pärt
          Choreography: Helen Pickett

Le Corsiare (pas de deux)
           Music: Adolphe Adam
           Choreography: Vakhtang Chabukiani

Plan To B (Excerpt)
            Music: Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
            Choreography: Jorma Elo

Scherzo à La Russe
         Music: Igor Stravinsky
         Choreography: George Balanchine

Li 3 (World Premiere: October 23, 2010, The Boston Opera House)
         Music: Lucas Vidal
         Choreography: Yury Yanowsky

Apollo (Excerpt)
          Music: Igor Stravinsky
          Choreography: George Balanchine

Don Quixote (pas de deux)
           Music: Ludwig Minkus
           Choreography: Marius Petipa

After The Rain (pas de deux)
           Music: Arvo Pärt, Spiegel Im Spiegel
           Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
           Guest Dancers:
               Wendy Whelan, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet
                Damian Smith, a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet
         
Ms Whelan and Mr. Smith were gracious to perform on very short notice to replace the guest artists from the Paris Opera Ballet, who were unable to fly in from Paris because of the transportation strikes in France.

Theme and Variations (Excerpt)
             Music: P.I. Tchaikovsky
             Choreography: George Balanchine

Following the principal dancers Misa Kuranaga and James Whiteside's pas de deux, a grand polonaise builds to the climactic finale for the entire cast of 26 dancers.

For a review by Thea Singer from the Boston Globe click here:

For Keith Powers of the Boston Herald review click here:

 In a review for The Harvard Crimson Alyssa A. Botelho writes, "..it was clear that 'Night of Stars' showcased Boston Ballet's versatility: the company's ability to embrace up-and-coming choreographers without forgetting its classical foundation."  Click here:

Principal dancers enjoy the post-performance festivities at the Ritz Carlton

Members of the Corps de Ballet have fun at the post-performance party

Mary and Diana at the post-performance reception

Eleanor and Mary

Diana

Mary