A co-production with Great Britain’s Royal Ballet, Boston Ballet’s season opener Obsidian Tear—November 3–12 at the Boston Opera House—has a decidedly Nordic slant. The title dance features music by Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen as well as an orchestral performance of the late Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ tone poem “Finlandia” and the world premiere of Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius by the company’s resident choreographer, Finland native Jorma Elo—who, not so coincidently, was appointed in 2005 by current Boston Ballet Artistic Director, the Finland-born Mikko Nissinen. The ballet from which the program takes its title—a North American premiere featuring nine male dancers—was choreographed by Royal Ballet Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and premiered to wide acclaim in London last year.
