Pacific Beach-based City Ballet of San Diego is closing Season 32 with “Carmen,” to be performed in Escondido on May 3-4.

The critically acclaimed City Ballet of San Diego, directed by artistic director Steven Wistrich and associate artistic director Ariana Gonzalez, offered a stunning collection of classic and contemporary ballets curated by a diverse set of choreographers examining facets of love and obsession for its Season 32.

“We are excited to present great story-telling ballets this season broadening our reach in both downtown San Diego and North County,” said Wistrich.

Ending the season at the California Center for the Arts, with the City Ballet Orchestra, is resident choreographer Elizabeth Wistrich’s “Carmen,” based on Bizet’s famous opera set in 1820 Spain – a love story full of jealousy, betrayal, and revenge performed to Georges Bizet’s dramatic score. Completing the program is George Balanchine’s “Divertimento No. 15,” a grand tutu ballet (above) that showcases his brilliant use of space and movement patterns performed to one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s greatest works.

Heralded as “a top-tier dance company” and “an oasis of classical dance in a city otherwise too often a desert,” City Ballet is San Diego’s world-class professional ballet company, in its 32nd season under the direction of former Boston Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet dancers, Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich.

City Ballet is a nonprofit organization committed to furthering the ballet art form. The company produces classic and contemporary ballet programs that critics call “polished, eye-catching and delightful,” and “highly entertaining and professional.” International dance critic Sheila Orysiek wrote, “San Diego finally has a classical ballet company worthy of the name.”

The company is best known for performing works by George Balanchine, founding artistic director of New York City Ballet. The George Balanchine Trust grants such permission only to those ballet companies it judges artistically competent to perform Balanchine’s masterworks.

Carmen

Accompanied by The City Ballet Orchestra, John Nettles conducting.

Saturday, May 3, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 4, at 2:00 p.m.

Music: Georges Bizet, Choreography: Elizabeth Wistrich.

First performed by USIU International Ballet Company, San Diego.

Last performed by City Ballet of San Diego at Spreckels Theatre, May 2017.

Divertimento No. 15

Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Choreography: George Balanchine.

First performed by New York City Ballet at American Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, Connecticut in May 1956.

Last performed by City Ballet of San Diego at Spreckels Theatre, May 2007.

Free pre-concert lecture 45 minutes before the performance. Performances at the California Center for the Arts, 340 N Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Order tickets at www.cityballet.org.