George Balanchine’s glittering three-act ballet Jewels was inspired by the beauty of the gem stones he saw in the New York store of jewellers Van Cleef and Arpels.

Each of the three movements draws on a different stone for its inspiration and a different composer for its sound:

-the French Romantic music of Fauré provides the impetus for the lyricism of Emeralds
-the fire of Rubies comes from Stravinsky and the jazz-age energy of New York, and
-the grandeur and elegance of Diamonds set to Tchaikovsky’s opulent Third Symphony.

Sumptuously beautiful, Jewels offers audiences a unique chance for the Bolshoi Ballet to showcase its dancing strength in depth.