George Balanchine: Jewels

Ulyana Lopatkina, Igor Zelensky, Irina Golub, Andrian Fadeyev, Zhana Ayupova, Mariinsky Ballet & Orchestra; Valey Gergiev, artistic director; Tugan Sokhiev, conductor

George Balanchine
Jewels

The Mariinsky Ballet (formerly known as the Kirov) is probably the world's greatest ballet company with an astonishing heritage and home to many of the most celebrated dancers. The ballet tours regurlarly, as well as performing througout the year in St Petersburg. During 2011 it visits the USA, UK, Spain, South America, Japan and South East Asia.
Before emigrating to the West, George Balanchine studied in St Petersburg and was a member of The State Academic Theatre, now known as the Mariinsky. Jewels however dates from late in his career as a choreographer, and was premiered at the New York City Ballet in 1967. Although it did not receive its first performance at the Mariinsky until 1999, it has since become a core part of the company's repertoire which it has performed it globally.
This performance was filmed by Brian Large at the Mariinsky Theatre and features many of the Mariinsky's most well-known dancers including Ulyana Lopatkina, Igor Zelensky and Andrian Fadeyev alongside conductor Tugan Sokhiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra. Also included is an interview with the Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theatre, Valery Gergiev.
Regarded as the world's first abstract ballet, Jewels consists of three acts; Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds featuring music by Fauré, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky respectively. There is a stark contrast in composition and style for each of the three acts, linked only by the dancers' dazzling costumes encrusted with coloured gems corresponding to the title act.
For the opening act Emeralds, the dancers appear in long green tulle skirts. The demure choreography is reminiscent of the nineteenth-century French school in its languid and flowing appearance and is set to the music of Gabriel Fauré. The playful second act Rubies is accompanied by Stravinsky's Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra. Full of character and wit, its striking angular poses bring to mind the modern New York scene. Diamonds evokes the classical era of Imperial Russia and the dancers, dressed in flat white tutus, sparkle along to the last three movements of Tchaikovsky's Third Symphony.

Price: $46.98