1967 three-act ballet by George Balanchine
Jewels is a three-act ballet created for the
New York City Ballet by co-founder and founding choreographer
George Balanchine . It premièred on Thursday, 13 April 1967 at the
New York State Theater , with sets designed by Peter Harvey and lighting by
Ronald Bates .
[1]
Jewels has been called the first full-length abstract ballet.
[2] It has three related movements:
Emeralds ,
Rubies , and
Diamonds (usually separated by intermissions). It can also be seen as three separate ballets, linked by their jewel-colored costumes. Balanchine commented: "The ballet had nothing to do with jewels. The dancers are just dressed like jewels."
[3] Each of the three acts features the music of a different composer: Emeralds is set to the music of
Gabriel Fauré , Rubies to the music of
Igor Stravinsky and Diamonds to music by
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky .
[4]
Costumes
The costumes were created by Balanchine's long-time collaborator
Barbara Karinska , who created a distinct look for each different act: romantic, calf-length tulle skirts for Emeralds , fabric that flared at the hips of both men and women in Rubies , and the flat, classical
tutu of the Imperial Russian Ballet for Diamonds . The costumes were such finely crafted pieces of art in their own right that some of them have been exhibited in museums and in theatre lobbies. Even Claude Arpels of
Van Cleef & Arpels , who suggested the idea of a ballet based on gems to the choreographer, was impressed with her attention to finding the finest trim that would accurately represent the true glitter of genuine gemstones. Additionally, Karinska's painstaking work is credited with making the costumes last despite the sweat and strain of dancing in them. Her designs, needlework and choice in fabrics made them both durable and danceable, illustrating that the bodies inside the costumes were deserving of her utmost respect. When questioned about her attention to her almost extravagant detail she replied, "I sew for girls and boys who make my costumes dance; their bodies deserve my clothes."
Rupert Pennefather and
Alina Cojocaru in the Diamonds suite from the opening night of the revival of George Balanchine's Jewels performed by
The Royal Ballet , Friday, November 23, 2007
Music
Emeralds
Rubies
Diamonds
Casts
Original
At the premiere in Spring 1967, Mimi Paul danced the parts of Sicilienne variation and the Nocturne ("walking")
pas de deux in Emeralds . Paul later went on to coach other dancers in the part, including
Sara Mearns .
[5]
Stagings (other than NYCB)
1974
Paris Opera Ballet
[companies 1]
1977
Dutch National Ballet
1980
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
1980
Zurich Ballet
[companies 2]
1981
Chicago City Ballet
[companies 3]
1982
Ballett der Deutschen Staatsoper
[companies 4]
1982
Los Angeles Ballet
1985
Ballet de l'Opera du Rhin
[companies 5]
1985
Royal Danish Ballet
1986
Boston Ballet
1986
Pennsylvania Ballet
1986 Ballet de l'Opera du Rhin
1986 Dutch National Ballet
1987
Ballet of Flanders
[companies 6]
1987
The Chautauqua Institution
[companies 7]
1987
San Francisco Ballet
1987
Texas Ballet
[companies 8]
1988
Ballet du Nord
[companies 9]
1988
Pacific Northwest Ballet
1988
PACT Ballet
[companies 10]
1988 Boston Ballet
1988 Royal Danish Ballet
1989
Louisville Ballet
1989
Royal Ballet, London
1990
Ballet de San Juan
1990
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
1990 Ballet du Nord
1990 Ballett der Deutschen Staatsoper
[companies 11]
1990 PACT Ballet
1990 Paris Opera Ballet
1991
Ballet Chicago
1991 Pacific Northwest Ballet
1991 San Francisco Ballet
1991 Texas Ballet
1992
Ballett der Deutschen Oper
[companies 11]
1992
Miami City Ballet
1992 Miami City Ballet
1992 Pennsylvania Ballet
1993
Finnish National Ballet
1993
Sacramento Ballet
1993 Ballet du Nord
1994
La Scala
[companies 12]
1994
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
1994 Louisville Ballet
1994 Miami City Ballet
1994 Miami City Ballet
1994 PACT Ballet
1994 Texas Ballet
1995
American Repertory Ballet
1995
Kansas City Ballet
1995 Miami City Ballet
1995 Pacific Northwest Ballet
1996
Asami Maki Ballet
[companies 13]
1996
Cincinnati Ballet
1996
Colorado Ballet
1996
North Carolina Dance Theatre
1996 Miami City Ballet
1996 Paris Opera Ballet
1996 Pennsylvania Ballet
1996 Texas Ballet
1997
Ballet Arizona
1997
Milwaukee Ballet
1997 Dutch National Ballet
1997 Miami City Ballet
1997 Miami City Ballet
1997 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
1997 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
1997 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
1997 San Francisco Ballet
1997 Texas Ballet
1998
Alberta Ballet
1998
Hartford Ballet
1998
San Diego Ballet
1998
Singapore Dance Theatre
1998 PACT Ballet
1998 Texas Ballet
1999
Ballet Austin
1999
Carolina Ballet
1999
Mariinsky Ballet
1999 Cincinnati Ballet
1999 Paris Opera Ballet
1999 Pennsylvania Ballet
1999 Royal Danish Ballet
1999 Sacramento Ballet
2000
National Ballet of Canada
2000
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
2000 Dutch National Ballet
2000 Paris Opera Ballet
2000 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
2001
Ballet National de Marseille
2001
Ballet NY
2002
Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse
2002 Kirov Ballet
[venues 1]
[venues 2]
2002 Paris Opera Ballet
2002 San Francisco Ballet
2002 San Francisco Ballet
2002 San Francisco Ballet
2002 San Francisco Ballet
2002 Texas Ballet
2003
BalletMet
[companies 14]
2003
Oregon Ballet Theatre
2003
Washington Ballet
2003 Cincinnati Ballet
2003 Milwaukee Ballet
2003 National Ballet of Canada
2003 Paris Opera Ballet
2003 Zurich Ballet
2004
Cape Town City Ballet
2004 Boston Ballet
2004 Colorado Ballet
2004 Finnish National Ballet
2004 La Scala
2004 Louisville Ballet
2004 Paris Opera Ballet
2004 Sacramento Ballet
2005
Scottish National Ballet
2005
Suzanne Farrell Ballet
2005
Teatro Colón
2005 Pacific Northwest Ballet
2006
Chamberlain Ballet
2006
Hamburg Ballet
2006 Alberta Ballet
2006 City Ballet of San Diego
2006 Dutch National Ballet
2006 Kirov Ballet
2006 Pacific Northwest Ballet
2006 San Francisco Ballet
2007
Festival Ballet
[sections 1]
2007 Ballet Arizona
[sections 1]
2007 Los Angeles Ballet
2007 Paris Opera Ballet
2007 Royal Ballet, London
2008
Charleston Ballet Theatre
[sections 1]
2008
Hong Kong Ballet
[sections 1]
2008
Nevada Ballet Theatre
[sections 1]
2008 Los Angeles Ballet
[sections 1]
2008 National Ballet of Canada
[sections 1]
2008 Paris Opera Ballet
2008 Royal Ballet, London
2008 Suzanne Farrell Ballet
[sections 2]
2009 Scottish National Ballet
[sections 1]
2011
Ballet Dortmund
[sections 1]
2011
Semperoper Ballett
2011 La Scala
2011 Royal Ballet, London
2012 Ballet West, Utah
2012 Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow
2012 The University of Arizona
[sections 1]
2013 Royal Ballet, London
2014
Oklahoma City Ballet
2014 La Scala
2014
Boston Ballet
2014
Pacific Northwest Ballet
2015 Suzanne Farrell Ballet
[sections 3]
2015
Het Nationale Ballet, Amsterdam
2016 The
Sarasota Ballet
2017 Royal Ballet, London
2017 Lincoln Center Festival (Paris Opera Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Bolshoi Ballet)
[6]
2018
Bayerisches Staatsballett (Bavarian State Ballet)
2018 Ballet West, Utah
2018 Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadelphia
2019–2020 Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna
2022 Miami City Ballet
2022 Royal Danish Ballet
2023 Staatsoper, München
2023 The Australian Ballet, Sydney & Melbourne
Excerpts
Venues
^ John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
^ Metropolitan Opera Association
Companies
^ Garnier
^ Ballett des Opernhauses Zurich
^ closed
^ East Berlin
^ Strasbourg, France
^ Koninklijk Ballet Van Vlaanderen/Royal Flemish Ballet
^ New York
^ formerly Fort Worth Dallas Ballet
^ France
^ Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal—Johannesburg, South Africa
^
a
b Berlin
^ Corpo do Ballo del Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy
^ Japan
^ Columbus, Ohio
Quotes
"It is open to doubt whether even George Balanchine has ever created a work in which the inspiration was so sustained, the invention so imaginative or the concept so magnificent as in the three-act ballet that had its world première at the New York State Theater last night."
Clive Barnes
[7]
Awards
At the
2008 Laurence Olivier Awards , the Royal Ballet won two
Laurence Olivier Awards for their company premiere of Jewels at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, featuring new scenic designs by
Jean-Marc Puissant , original costume designs by
Barbara Karinska , and lighting by
Jennifer Tipton . This was the first performance of the full-length ballet by the company, picking up the awards for
Best New Dance Production
[8] and
Outstanding Achievement in Dance . The Olivier Awards are the highest honour in professional British theatre and are equivalent to Broadway's
Tony Awards .
Recordings
DVD
Other
In light of
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performing arts ,
New York City Ballet released recordings of Rubies and Diamond . Rubies featured
Megan Fairchild ,
Gonzalo Garcia and
Mira Nadon , and was the latter's debut. Diamond starred
Sara Mearns and
Russell Janzen . Both Rubies and Diamond are recorded in 2019.
[12]
[13] The
Royal Danish Ballet released a video of Emerald , featuring
Amy Watson , Jonathan Chmelensky,
Susanne Grinder and
Marcin Kupinski .
[14]
In Other Works
The second volume of
The Case Files of Jeweler Richard features a case that revolves around a possibly haunted performance of the ballet. The chapter ends with the characters having watched it themselves and discussing reactions to it.
[15]
References
^
The ballet went officially untitled at the première.
^
"Jewels" . roh.org.uk . Royal Opera House. Retrieved December 31, 2013 .
^ Nancy Reynolds, Repertory in Review (New York: Dial Press, 1977), p. 247.
^
"Ballet Notes , BalletMet Columbus" . Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^
"Balanchine Foundation Video Archives: MIMI PAUL coaching the Sicilienne variation and the Nocturne ("walking") Pas de Deux from 'Emeralds' " . Retrieved April 4, 2018 – via Alexander Street.
^
"Jewels" . Lincoln Center . Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
^
NY Times , Friday, April 14, 1967
^
"Olivier Winners 2008" . Olivier Awards . Retrieved May 8, 2023 .
^
Amazon.com: Balanchine – Jewels /
Aurelie Dupont , Alessio Carbone, Marie-Agnès Gillot, Agnes Letestu, Jean-Guillaume Bart,
Clairemarie Osta , Kader Belarbi, Paris Opera Ballet: Movies & TV: Mathieu Ganio,
Laetitia Pujol ,
Eleonora Abbagnato , Emmanuel Thibault Nolwenn Daniel
^
"Choreography By Balanchine / Tzigane, Andante from Divertimento No 15, The Four Temperaments, Selections from Jewels, Stravinsky Violin Concerto" . Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Amazon.
^
"Jewels" . Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Amazon.
^
"Stream Rubies and Concerto DSCH From New York City Ballet" . Playbill . April 27, 2020.
^
"Week 5 of New York City Ballet's six-week digital spring season" . Gramilano . May 11, 2020.
^
"Juveler" . Det Kongelige Teater (in Danish). Archived from
the original on June 6, 2020.
^ Tsujimura, Nanako. The Case Files of Jeweler Richard: The Dancing Emeralds . Seven Seas Entertainment.
Bibliography
Playbill , NYCB, Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Playbill , NYCB, Saturday, May 31, 2008
Playbill , NYCB, Saturday, June 7, 2008
Repertory Week , NYCB, Winter season, 2008 repertory, week 1
Dance: Appraising Balanchine 'Jewels'; New Work Seen Again at State Theater NY Times, Monday, April 17, 1967, by
Clive Barnes
Dance; The Season Grew Rosier Sunday NY Times, April 23, 1967, by
Clive Barnes
Sunday NY Times, April 30, 1967, by Richard F. Shepard
NY Times, Saturday, July 8, 1967, by Don McDonagh
External links