Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen today announced the programming for the 2014-2015 season at the Boston Opera House. Boston Ballet’s 51^st season kicks off with the world premiere of Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake, featuring glorious new sets and costumes by award winning designer Robert Perdziola.  The season continues with the beloved new production of Nissinen’s The Nutcracker and Val Caniparoli’s romantic drama Lady of the Camellias. The spring season heats up with a burst of contemporary and neo-classical choreography from masters such as William Forsythe, Jerome Robbins, Helen Pickett, and Wayne McGregor, including the Company premieres of George Balanchine’s Episodes and Hans van Manen’s Black Cake.  Adding to the excitement, Boston Ballet will present world premieres by Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo and Principal Dancer Jeffrey Cirio.

“Next season has shaped up to be very exciting,” said Nissinen. “The new production of Swan Lake will be deeply rooted in tradition with the clean yet luxurious beauty we have come to expect from Perdziola’s designs.  After we steal your heart with The Nutcracker and Lady of the Camellias, get ready for a jolt of energy from our three spring repertory programs.  I cannot imagine a better way to showcase the strength of our diverse company than with this season’s programming.  The future of Boston Ballet starts now.”

The world premiere of Nissinen’s Swan Lake will launch the season in splendor October 30 – November 9.  Perdziola and Nissinen join forces again following the 2012 launch of Boston Ballet’s new version of The Nutcracker. A wonderful blend of history, classicism and luscious detail this fresh new production of Swan Lake will feature a never before seen haunting prologue.  This world famous classic is set to P.I. Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, and features Nissinen’s choreography based on the original version by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.

The season continues with Boston’s favorite holiday tradition The Nutcracker, on stage November 28 – December 31.  Boston Ballet then presentsVal Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias from February 26 – March 8.  This heartbreaking ballet is based on the 19^th Century French novel by Alexandre Dumas that later inspired the opera La Traviata and Hollywood blockbuster Moulin Rouge. The ballet follows the tragic tale of love between a courtesan and impoverished artist set to music by Frédéric Chopin.