Jewels

Choreographed by George Balanchine in 1967, Jewels is considered to be the first great abstract work of classical ballet. Different styles and techniques come together to create three universes, each representing one of three dance schools. For Emerald’s dark green, Balanchine chose the music of Gabriel Fauré, using selections from Pelléas et Mélisande and Shylock to pay tribute to French Romanticism. Ruby comes to life through Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, evoking American dance traditions of Broadway music halls. Finally, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 calls to mind the diamond-like virtuosity and splendour of Russian classical ballet. This 2006 production from Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra stars Ulyana Lopatkina, Igor Zelensky and Andrian Fadeyev.