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Jewels

Jewels uses three gem stones as starting points to explore an array of musical and dance styles, each intimately connected to Balanchine’s own life and career.

George Balanchine’s glittering ballet Jewels was inspired by the beauty of the gem stones he saw in the New York store of jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels. He went on to make history with this, the first abstract three-act ballet, first performed in 1967 by New York City Ballet. Jewels was performed in full by The Royal Ballet for the first time in 2007, using costume designs from the original NYCB production and new set designs by Jean-Marc Puissant.

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. Grandeur and elegance complete the ballet in ‘Diamonds’, with the splendour of Imperial Russia and Tchaikovsky’s opulent Third Symphony. Each section salutes a different era in classical ballet’s history as well as a distinct period in Balanchine’s own life. Through it all, Balanchine displays his genius for combining music with visionary choreography.

Royal Opera House Details

Buses Icon Bus routes: (Aldwych) RV1, 6, 11, 13, 23, 59, 68, 87, 171, 172, 188, X68

Night Buses Icon Night buses: (Aldwych) 6, 23, 188, N11, N13, N26, N47, N68, N87, N89, N155, N171, N551

Rail Icon Nearest rail: Charing Cross

London Underground Icon Tube lines: Piccadilly

London Underground Icon Nearest tube: Covent Garden

Directions Icon Directions from Covent Garden :

(3 mins) The Royal Opera House is off Covent Garden piazza, which is visible from the tube station exit. There is a revolving door entrance at the piazza.

Parking Icon Car park: Drury Lane, Parker Street (7mins)

Congestion Zone Icon In congestion zone?: Yes

Facilities at Royal Opera House

Air conditioned

Bar

Disabled toilets

Infrared hearing loop

Toilets

Wheelchair accessible

Royal Opera House Location

Bow Street, London, WC2E 9DD
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Jewels

Royal Opera House, London

Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes (Two intervals)

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