Le Ballet national du Canada

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“I like the colour of gems, the beauty of stones.” So said George Balanchine of the inspiration for his 1967 ballet triptych Jewels, a plotless work evoking the radiance and architecture of precious stones. The ballet’s three acts – Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds – are each set to the music of a different composer and often appear as standalone pieces. This season, The National Ballet of Canada will present Jewels in its entirety, giving full expression to this celebrated work.

Cinq choses à savoir

1. 1Balanchine created Jewels for New York City Ballet, inspired by the luxury jeweller, Van Cleef & Arpels. Balanchine’s choreography works with the music and Barbara Karinska’s famous costumes to bring the colour and character of each stone to life.
    
2. 2Each part of Jewels is set to the music of a different composer: Emeralds to Gabriel Fauré, Rubies to Igor Stravinsky and Diamonds to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
    
3. 3Stylistically, the three parts are unique. Emeralds recalls the 19th century dances of the French Romantics, Rubies is jazzy and crisp and Diamonds evokes the grandeur of the Imperial Ballet in Russia, where Balanchine trained.
    
4. 4Images of jewelry emerge through Balanchine’s use of pattern, with the Corps de Ballet forming a necklace-like string in Emeralds, a semicircular tiara in Rubies and diamonds in Diamonds.
    
5. 5The three parts of Jewels are often performed as standalone pieces, even though it was conceived as a full-length plotless ballet. The National Ballet of Canada last performed Jewels in its entirety in 2006.

Watch and Explore

Breathtaking Jewels

Voir la galerie

Read Article: Sara Mearns on her Guest Appearance in Jewels

Le chorégraphe

Né à Saint-Pétersbourg, George Balanchine, co-fondateur et directeur du New York City Ballet, est l’un des chorégraphes les plus célèbres et les plus prolifiques du XXe siècle. On lui attribue le mérite d’avoir révolutionné le style du ballet classique pour ouvrir une nouvelle ère dans des œuvres d’une musicalité et d’une esthétique sans précédent.

The Composers

19th-century French composer Gabriel Fauré was known for the elegance of his music and its impression of simplicity. His extensive oeuvre includes chamber music, songs, incidental music for plays and poems, operas and music for piano, with notable works including his Requiem and Pavane.

Russian composer Igor Stravinsky was a formative figure in 20th-century music. His experimental work encompasses a range of styles and includes the ballets The Firebird, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring. Favoured by choreographer George Balanchine, his music features heavily in the repertoire of New York City Ballet, with works such as Agon and Apollo.

The late 19th-century Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky created some of the most popular works in the classical repertoire, particularly his three full-length scores for ballet: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. His work includes full-length operas, multiple symphonies and concerti.

Critiques

“As breathtaking as the jewels that inspired it.” – Toronto Star

“One of the greatest repertoire works... the dancing is sexy, sassy, brash, energetic and très moderne.” – The Globe and Mail

“It’s all terribly lovely to look at – and thanks to the combined skills of the company – hugely impressive in its artistry.” – Toronto Sun

Répartition des rôles

Casting will be announced on our eNewsletter, Ballet News, and on social media and will be posted here approximately two weeks prior to the opening. Please note, casting is always subject to change.

Crédits

Chorégraphie :
George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

Emeralds
Musique :
Gabriel Fauré, from Pelleas et Mélisande and Shylock

Rubies
Musique :
Igor Stravinsky, Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
Grâce à une entente avec Boosey & Hawkes, INC., éditeur et titulaire du droit d’auteur.

Diamonds
Musique :
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 3 in D Major

Conception des costumes :
Karinska

Conception de l’éclairage :
Robert Thomson

Première mondiale : New York City Ballet, New York City, New York, 13 avril, 1967

Première du Ballet national du Canada : O’Keefe Centre (now Meridian Hall), Toronto, 11 février, 2000

The performance of Jewels, a Balanchine^® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style^® and Balanchine Technique^® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

Jewels is a gift from The Volunteer Committee, The National Ballet of Canada.