LA MER - Boston Ballet - Nanine Linning - 2023

Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen announces the Boston Ballet presentation of La Mer, an explosive world premiere by lauded artist and choreographer Nanine Linning, which explores the romance, beauty, and volatility of the sea and is the result of a highly collaborative effort of an extraordinary team of artists from around the world.

“This program showcases the absolute best of Boston Ballet and how we are always pushing the artform forward,” said Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. “I am so proud of the Company for taking on such a massive undertaking with Nanine Linning’s stunning world premiere. It has been inspiring having this team of remarkable artists from around the world collaborating and creating.”

Making its world premiere, Nanine Linning’s La Mer is set to Claude Debussy’s sweeping La Mer and choral work Sirènes. Performed live by the Boston Ballet Orchestra and Boston’s virtuosic women’s vocal group Lorelei Ensemble, the ballet will be punctuated by newly created musical compositions by composer Yannis Kyriakides. Linning is collaborating with an extraordinary team of international artists to create this large-scale production. The list includes dramaturg Peggy Olislaegers, Yuima Nakazato, haute couture designer from Tokyo who presents annually at Paris Fashion Week, Heleen Blanken, a video scenographer based in Amsterdam creating interactive works for museums and stages, and Cyprus-born, London-raised composer Yannis Kyriakides, who works with some of the best orchestras and choirs in the world as well as for dance, opera, and film. This team also includes Boston Ballet’s acclaimed Lighting Designer Brandon Stirling Baker and Technical Director and Stage Designer Benjamin Phillips.  

La Mer is a 50-minute work performed by 33 dancers, 45 musicians of the orchestra, and eight singers. Linning and her team aim to raise awareness of the importance of ocean preservation and a new vision of the ocean. Boston Ballet and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) are also collaborating on the world premiere of La Mer. WHOI is guiding Boston Ballet on the science behind ocean threats and is assisting in connecting the scientific and creative processes.

„Award - winning Dutch choreographer has ‚a cultlike following’ in Europe” Boston Globe

Credits

Concept, Stage Direction and Choreography: Nanine Linning 

Haute couture designer: Yuima Nakazato

Visual and New Media Art: Heleen Blanken

Newly commissioned compositions: Yannis Kyriakides

Light designer: Brandon Stirling

Dramaturg: Peggy Olislaegers

Stage designer: Benjamin Phillips

Chorus: Lorelei Ensemble

Boston Ballet Orchestra

Conducted by Misha Santora

Commissioned and performed by Boston Ballet, Artistic Director Mikko Nissinnen

premiere April 6th, 2023, Citizen Bank Opera House, Boston, USA

With the incredible kind support of the Linning Commissioners Circle: Lisa & Tom Blumenthal, Stephanie Brown, Lori Heinel, Brynja Vifilsdottir and Hannes Smarason.

In partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Boston (WHOI).

Photographer Liza Voll (1, 2, 4, 5) and Brooke Trisoli (3)