Winter Experience: Boston Ballet’s Program of Whimsy and Drama

 The Boston Ballet season always has a mix of story ballets and more contemporary mixed bill programs. Ballet lovers have their favourite story ballets, individual pieces, choreographers and dances. Winter Experience is in the program slot that tends to be the one I look forward to most and this Boston Ballet program of whimsy and drama at the Boston Opera House did not disappoint

Boston Ballet’s Winter Experience is a nice little parcel of Balanchine works with a fabulous work by Claudia Schreier and a playful cameo of a piece by Leonid Jakobson sandwiched in between. It has taken me being in the United States for a very long time now to really learn to appreciate Balanchine and Boston Ballet has given me a small course in Balanchine over the many seasons. While in New York in the 90’s the tall slender Balanchine body and strict uniform look of a “Balanchine” company was both pleasing to the eye, but also got old fast. When I saw Boston Ballet’s more diverse company in every which way performing Balanchine I got to see it in a different light and in a way, the choreography shone through more than the mono tone of one “person” photocopied over and over across the stage.

As the name implies, Mozartiana, is an homage to Mozart. Of course for this program there was a live orchestra, led by Mischa Santoro. In addition, Suzanne Farrell, was present as guest repetiteur, which is a very important tradition in ballet. Having the notes passed down in person from one generation to the next, and the next and the next for a particular work is a true gift and practice that I hope never disappears. Mozartiana, has beautiful black and white what I would call “peasant-style” meets “black tie” tutus designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian. Mozartiana is full of whimsy. It is the perfect way to start of the program, because it sucks you in and puts you in a beautiful balletic trance. The outside world quickly fades away and you are here for the lift, the beautiful movement, and stunning human friezes. Mozartiana included students from the Boston Ballet school as well. Mozartiana was all pretty little whimsical montages.

There is no one else like Suzanne Farrell. She is an absolute legend in the dance world and her depth of soulful artistry is immeasurable,”

Mikko Nissinen.

Slipstream by Claudia Schreier was my favourite piece of the evening. It is dramatic in the way that huge waves in the ocean are dramatic. Slipstream’s costumes designed by Erica Desautels were cool in color tones and style. The large number of bodies on stage constantly ebbing and flowing was exciting and visually pleasing. Schreier’s unique choreography and attention-catching lifts are refreshing. Like every great surfer, you want to stay and catch the last wave never wanting it to end and then all of a sudden the light drops and you’re left staring into the void, glowing, and glad for every moment of what you just experienced.

Vestris by Leonid Jakobson was created for Mikhail Barishnakov, which is intimidating by nature but Yue Shi did it justice. Vestris harkens back to a long gone time, but threads of which the ballet world has carried into the present.  This piece verges on caricature and has plenty of whimsy and humor. Vestris was choreographed in memory of Gaétan Vestris a French ballet dancer born in Florence and débuting at the opera in 1749. At first, I thought Vestris was a bit of a parody poking fun at some of the preciousness and style of ballet at times. It is in fact, more of a cameo of based on Auguste Vestris. According to an article in the New York Times from May of 1975 Auguste Vestris is the most famous of the Vestris dynasty of dancers, who was born in 1760 and died in 1842. It was said of Auguste, the son of the great Gaetano Vestris, that he “on one leg could do what erst nor mortal could achieve on two.”

Symphony in Three Movements is the Balanchine piece that ends the program. I love this work for the larger number of dancers on stage and the dramatic lines and formations. It is a playful work as well. Somehow Symphony in Three Movements has both whimsy and drama making it the perfect little twine that ties up the parcel that is Winter Experience.

Symphony in Three Movements is a signature Balanchine work that showcases abstract neoclassical ballet at its very finest. It’s an incredible illustration and exploration of Stravinsky and his music.

Mikko Nissinen

You may have missed Winter Experience, but as you well know it is almost spring and there is more to come from Boston Ballet this season. Spring Experience will open on May 15th, followed by Boston Ballet School’s Next Generation performance where you get to see the future of ballet perform on May 21st, then brand new to Boston will be Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette to close out this season.

City Living Boston offers discounted tickets in collaboration with Boston Ballet. For discounted tickets use code CITYLIVING45 or purchase your tickets via this link.