Balanchine: Jewels

An iconic ballet by George Balanchine Brilliant ballet and great music: Jewels is back on the Main Stage! Fauré, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky Unique and iconic are words that recur in descriptions of George Balanchine's full-evening ballet Jewels. The three acts are each inspired by a different jewel, and here you can experience three different worlds with music by Fauré, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. Nasjonalballetten has danced Balanchine's choreographies for many years. When Jewels came up for the first time in 2024, a real test of strength awaited both the dancers and the musicians of Operaorkestret. International journals such as Dance Europe were also enthralled, and the critic Gerard David wrote: "I have never seen Jewels undergo such a personal, almost radical, interpretation." Three ballets in one Jewels is known as the first full-evening abstract ballet ever, but it has three distinct and different acts: Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds. Balanchine was inspired by the work of the jewellery designer Claude Arpels: he wanted to conjure up the essence of three different jewels and create three different moods through dance, colours and music. It begins elegantly to music by Fauré, continues briskly to Stravinsky and ends grandly to Tchaikovsky. Music Emeralds Gabriel Fauré "Pelléas et Mélisande" and "Shylock" Rubies Igor Stravinsky "Capriccio for piano and orchestra" Diamonds Pyotr Tchaikovsky "Symphony No. 3 in D major. Op. 29" Choreography George Balanchine Set design Jean-Marc Puissant Costume design Karinska Lighting design Jennifer Tipton Lighting design realisation Kevin Briard Performers Nasjonalballetten, Operaorkestret Musical direction TBC