Joyaux

Jewels George Balanchine Opéra Bastille Duration: 1h50 with 1 intervalIt was while strolling past the jewellery shops of Fifth Avenue that George Balanchine found the inspiration for a new piece, Jewels, created for New York City Ballet in 1967.

In this three-part ballet, which reflects his love of women, the Russian choreographer pairs each precious stone with a dance style. The opening piece, Emeralds, set to delicate music by Gabriel Fauré, evokes the Romanticism of the French school.

Rubies, which follows, unfolds to the syncopated rhythm of Igor Stravinsky's Capriccio, nodding towards music hall and Broadway, before Diamonds pays tribute to the grand tradition of Russian imperial ballet, to the sound of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Third Symphony.

Since entering the repertoire of the Opéra national de Paris in 2000, Jewels has been adorned with sets and costumes by Christian Lacroix, which elevate this sumptuous ballet, as timeless as diamonds themselves.

The Étoiles, Premières Danseuses, Premiers Danseurs and the Corps de Ballet de l'Opéra Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris