Friday night I went to the ballet with my mother. PBT’s season opener: The Three Musketeers, based on the Dumas classic, but created in Australia in 1980 with a score drawn from Verdi. An entertaining performance, that is for sure. Swordfights and romance and dastardly deception and amazing feats of athleticism and tender grace. Company member I can’t take my eyes off: Principal Nurlan Abougaliev. Lightness and power, unparalleled.

PBT seems to be reaching to broad audiences with this season’s selections — familiar stories told in dance (Musketeers, Dracula), and nods to oeuvres by big names (the music of Gershwin, the choreography of Balanchine). I sincerely hope these choices attract the larger audiences PBT is hoping for/reaching out to.

Ballet. It’s not just Sugar Plum Fairies and the kids in their Christmas finest.