Jewels
George Balanchine’s evocation of the sparkle of emeralds, rubies and diamonds is a ballet gem in its own right.
Photos
When to see it
Booking for 17 December 2013 - 7 January 2014 opens
- Booking opens 22 October 2013 at 10.00am for General Public.
- Booking opens 24 September 2013 at 10.00am for Friends of Covent Garden.
- Booking opens 12 September 2013 at 10.00am for Supporting Friends.
- Booking opens 11 September 2013 at 10.00am for Premium 1 Friends.
- Booking opens 10 September 2013 at 10.00am for Premium 2 Friends.
Introduction
Jewels uses three gem stones as starting points to explore an array of musical and dance styles that are intimately connected to Balanchine’s own life and career.
News and features
2013/14 Ballet and Dance Season announced
New works and visiting companies alongside classics at the Royal Opera House.
Background
George Balanchine’s glittering ballet was inspired by the beauty of the gem stones he saw in the jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels. It was created in 1967 for the New York City Ballet and is the first abstract three-act ballet. Jewels was performed in full by The Royal Ballet for the first time in 2007. The production uses costume designs from the original version and new set designs by Jean-Marc Puissant.
Each of the three movements draws on a different stone for its inspiration and a different composer for its sound. The French Romantic music of Fauré provides the impetus for the lyricism of ‘Emeralds’. The fire of ‘Rubies’ comes from Stravinsky and the jazz-age energy of New York. Grandeur and elegance complete the ballet in ‘Diamonds’ with the splendour of Imperial Russia and the music of Tchaikovsky. Each section salutes a different era in classical ballet’s history as well as a distinct period in Balanchine’s own life. Through it all, Balanchine displays his genius for combining concert music with visionary choreography.
Thanks to
Generously supported by
The Friends of Covent Garden
How to support the Royal Opera House
Running time
About 2 hours 20 minutes | Including two intervals
Credits
| Choreography | George Balanchine |
| Music | Gabriel Fauré |
| Music | Igor Stravinsky |
| Music | Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky |
| Set designs | Jean-Marc Puissant |
| Costume designs | Barbara Karinska |
| Lighting | Jennifer Tipton |
| Staging | Elyse Bourne |
| Staging | Patricia Neary |
Related links
- www.theballetbag.com The Ballet Bag: Jewels
- balanchine.com The George Balanchine Trust: Jewels
