Ballet
Jewels
Jewels is often called the first full length plotless ballet, and it is a real showcase piece. It comes in three sparkling sections named after gemstones, each with its own music, mood, and style. Think of it as three short ballets in one evening, all tied together by the idea of jewels.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Choreographer
- George Balanchine
- Premiere
- 1967, New York
- Structure
- Three parts
- Running time
- About 1 hour 45 minutes
The story
Jewels is made of three separate sections with no shared story. Emeralds, set to music by Fauré, is soft and dreamy and often linked to a romantic French feeling. Rubies, set to Stravinsky, is fast, jazzy, and playful. Diamonds, set to Tchaikovsky, is grand and formal in the style of old Russian imperial ballet. There is no plot across the three parts, so the fun is in seeing how the mood shifts from one gemstone to the next.
What Jewels is famous for
- three contrasting gemstone sections
- often called the first plotless full length ballet
- the playful Rubies section
- a New York City Ballet staple
Companies that perform Jewels
Jewels is in the repertoire of companies including New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Jewels?
Each of the three sections is named after a gemstone, Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds, and each has its own look and feel.
Is there a story?
No, it is a plotless ballet. The three parts are connected by mood and theme rather than by characters or plot.
Do the sections use different composers?
Yes. Emeralds uses Fauré, Rubies uses Stravinsky, and Diamonds uses Tchaikovsky.
Who composed Jewels?
Jewels was composed by Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
How long is Jewels?
Jewels runs about 1 hour 45 minutes.