Boston Ballet Honors Serge Diaghilev

The program includes an impressive range of works including Vaslav Nijinsky’s Afternoon of a Faun, Michel Fokine’s Le Spectre de la Rose, the world premiere of Le Sacre du Printemps by Boston Ballet’s Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo, and George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son.

Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, a company of Russian trained dancers, became known as one of the most influential ballet companies of the 20th Century. The Ballets Russes were an engaging cultural and artistic force propelled by Diaghilev’s ground-breaking artistic collaborations among choreographers, composers, and artists. These collaborations consistently toed the line of the expected and the accepted, resulting in revolutionary works which shocked audiences and created a renaissance in dance and art that still resonates today. The company, which included some of the most promising Russian dancers such as Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karasavina, and Mathilda Kchessinska, created a rich aesthetic world that was immensely inspiring to artists and audiences alike.

“Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes have provided inspiration that the art form has worked off of for a century. From his revolutionary collaborations to his philosophy of innovation, Diaghilev has left a lasting cultural imprint,” said Mikko Nissinen, Artistic Director, Boston Ballet. “It is an honor and a passion of mine to stage these great works and to pay tribute to Diaghilev’s genius. Additionally, Boston Ballet continues the tradition of looking towards the future with Jorma Elo’s world premiere, a work that will take the dancers and audiences to a new place.”

Boston Ballet’s Ballets Russes program includes four works which highlight the Ballets Russes era. Afternoon of a Faun was choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky for the Ballets Russes and was first performed in 1912. Nijinsky originated the role of the young faun, an interpretation which became legendary. The ballet was inspired by Stephane Mallarme’s poem, “L’apres-midi d’un faune.” The ballet was originally staged to depict the dancers as part of a large tableau and often featured the dancers moving across the stage in profile. Afternoon of a Faun is considered one of the premiere modern ballets and met controversy upon its debut for its erotic undertones.

Le Spectre de la Rose, choreographed by Michel Fokine, was first presented in 1911. It tells the story of a young girl, who returning from her first ball, falls asleep and dreams that the rose she holds in her hand is dancing with her. Fokine believed dance only had meaning when each movement contained drama and expression. Le Spectre de la Rose reflects this attention to the portrayal of emotion through dance. The ballet was given its U.S. premiere in 1916 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo will premiere a new work, his sixth for Boston Ballet, set to Igor Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps. The score is rhythmic and inspired by primitive pagan rituals. Upon its premiere, the work was controversial, shocking audiences that were accustomed to classical ballet. Many choreographers have created works to the score, including Pina Bausch, Sir Kenneth MacMillan and Maurice Bejart. Elo’s version will feature striking red, reflective costuming and a display of fire on the Wang stage. “I hope to surprise the audience with something they have never seen before. The score was an inspiration to work with; I wanted to bring a new perspective to the music and allow the dancers to do the same,” said Elo.

George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, one of his few narrative ballets, was choreographed for the Ballets Russes in 1928. It is based on the Biblical tale of the rebellious son who leaves his father’s home to find adventure in the wider world, only to return after experiencing the cruelties of humankind. The ballet features powerful dancing and highly dramatic lead roles.

It maintains the central theme of the parable, with dancing reminiscent of the Russian tradition. Prodigal Son conveys the moral of the parable in the Gospel of St. Luke and emphasizes the themes of sin and redemption. Prodigal Son was one of the first Balanchine ballets to achieve international recognition. Together, these works will honor Diaghilev’s tradition of invention and innovation while serving as a historical retrospective. -- www.bostonballet.org