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BOSTON BALLET OPENS FALL SEASON WITH ALL-STAR GALA PERFORMANCE

Acclaimed Company Dancers Showcased in World Premiere and Repertory Favorites

Special Guests Maria Kowroski and Albert Evans Of New York City Ballet

BOSTON, MA – August, 19, 2008 – Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen announced today the complete repertoire and casting for Boston Ballet’s annual, one-night-only all-star gala performance, Night of Stars, which takes place on Friday, October 10 at 8pm at Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Wang Theatre. This benefit evening will feature the full company, Boston Ballet orchestra and renowned guest artists Maria Kowroski and Albert Evans, principal dancers with New York City Ballet. The performance will emphasize the talent of Boston Ballet’s international roster of acclaimed dancers performing solos, pas de deux, and ensemble excerpts from both classical and contemporary ballets including a world premiere by Viktor Plotnikov.

“I’ve selected a varied repertory highlighting some of Boston Ballet’s finest works from past seasons, pieces previewing our upcoming season and new works that will be presented to our audience for the very first time,” said Nissinen. “The Night of Stars program offers a wide array of astounding performances that make this a very special night for our audience every year.”

The evening will open with the performance of resident choreographer Jorma Elo’s latest piece for the Company, In on Blue which premiered to audience and critical acclaim in March 2007. The program also features works by master choreographers George Balanchine and Marius Petipa as well pieces by today’s dynamic contemporary choreographers William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp and Christopher Wheeldon and rising young artist Sabrina Matthews.

This year’s guest artists are Maria Kowroski and Albert Evans, principal dancers with New York City Ballet who will perform Christopher Wheeldon’s 2003 spiritual duet Liturgy.

Kowroski was the recipient of the prestigious Princess Grace Award in 1994. She joined New York City Ballet in 1995 as a member of the corps de ballet. In 1997, Kowroski was promoted to the rank of soloist and in 1999, she was promoted to principal dancer. Kowroski has previously performed as a guest artist with the Maryinsky Ballet and the Munich Ballet.

Albert Evans was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his ballet training at Terpsichore Expressions in Atlanta. In 1986, he was awarded a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet. Evans was made a member of New York City Ballet's corps de ballet in 1988, and was immediately given leading roles in two American Music Festival ballets: William Forsythe's Behind The China Dogs, and Eliot Feld's The Unanswered Question. He was promoted to soloist in the spring of 1991, and to principal in the winter of 1995.

The complete Night of Stars: A Gala Benefit Performance program follows:

(Casting and repertoire subject to change)

Excerpts from the following ballets will be performed

In on Blue
Music: Eugene Ysaye and Bernard Herrman
Choreography: Jorma Elo
Dancers: Company

Rubies (from Jewels)
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: George Balanchine
Dancers: Misa Kuranaga, James Whiteside

Concerto Barocco
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreography: George Balanchine
Dancers: Rie Ichikawa, Pavel Gurevich, Company

The Sleeping Beauty
Music: Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Dancers: Larissa Ponomarenko, Roman Rykine

Ein von Viel
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreography: Sabrina Matthews
Dancers: Jared Redick, James Whiteside

Spartacus
Music: Aram Khachaturian
Choreography: Carlos Molina
Dancers: Erica Cornejo, Carlos Molina

Paquita
Music: Edouard Deldevez, with additional compositions by Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Dancers: Lorna Feijóo, Nelson Madrigal, Company

Vile Parody of Address
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreography: William Forsythe
Dancer: John Lam

World Premiere by Viktor Plotnikov
Choreography: Viktor Plotnikov
Dancers: Larissa Ponomarenko, Yury Yanowsky

Liturgy
Music: Arvo Part
Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
Dancers: Maria Kowroski, Albert Evans

Le Corsaire
Music: Adolphe Adam
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Dancers: Melissa Hough, Jaime Diaz

In the Upper Room
Music: Philip Glass
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Dancer: Company

Tickets

Tickets for season ballets can be purchased by phone at 866.348.9738, online at www.citicenter.org, or in person at the Citi Performing Arts CenterSM box office, located at 270 Tremont Street in Boston's Theatre District, open Monday - Saturday from 10am - 6pm. Prices for season ballets start at $25. Prices for Night of Stars start at $30. Discounted group tickets (10 or more) are available by calling Boston Ballet's Group Sales at 617.456.6343. Rush tickets are available. Contact the Boston Ballet box office at 617.695.6955 or visit www.bostonballet.org for details.

About Boston Ballet

Founded in 1963, Boston Ballet is one of the leading dance companies in North America. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, the Company maintains an internationally acclaimed repertoire of classical, neo-classical and contemporary works, ranging from full-length story ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers.

Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is made up of pre-professional dancers who gain experience by performing with Boston Ballet and as an independent group, presenting lecture-demonstrations and unique programs to audiences throughout the Northeast. The Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education is the largest ballet school in North America. In service of its mission to bring the highest quality arts education to all, it reaches and instructs more than 5,000 students of all ages each year through Boston Ballet School, Summer Dance Workshop, Summer Dance Program, Citydance, Taking Steps, and Adaptive Dance. The wide array of dance education programs are held at four major ballet studio locations, in community centers, and throughout the Boston Public Schools.

Boston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following institutional partners:

State Street Corporation, 2008 Sponsor, The Nutcracker

Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation/Linda S. Waintrup, Trustee

Massachusetts Cultural Council

National Endowment for the Arts

Boston Organ & Piano, Official Piano Supplier of Boston Ballet

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