Jewels

As the story goes, George Balanchine first conceived of his idea for the world’s first full-length abstract ballet on a visit to a famous New York jeweller. These three distinct and autonomous pieces – the »Jewels« – are Balanchine’s tribute to the »Golden Age« of ballet as well as an exploration of the countries in which the choreographer had lived and which shaped his development: France (»Emeralds«), America (»Rubies«) and Russia (»Diamonds«). With his »Emeralds«, Balanchine, who had belonged for a short time in 1920’s to the »Ballets Russes« company of brilliant impresario Sergei Diaghilev, celebrates a France of »elegance, society life and perfume«. To the music of two compositions by French composer Gabriel Fauré, »Pelléas et Mélisande« and »Shylock«, the lyrical choreographer conjures up the era of romantic ballet, the danse d’école and the Slyphides. »Rubies«, on the other hand, makes use of Igor Stravinsky’s jazz-influenced Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra to recreate the energy and rhythms of New World urbanity. As for the music of the last work, his Russian »Diamonds«, it is unmistakably clear that Balanchine had no other choice but Tchaikovsky, the composer for whose music he had felt such a close affiliation all his life. Likewise, its choreography is evident as an homage to Marius Petipa. Now, in the 2011-2012 season, all three parts can be savoured for the first time in Dresden.

Emeralds, Rubies, Diamonds Choreography by George Balanchine

Running time 2 hours 15 minutes

Premiere 27 Aug 2011

No coming shows this season.