Watch a clip from Balanchine's Jewels, performed by Australian Ballet

Friday, August 4, 2023

Excerpt taken from Rubies, set to the music of Stravinsky

Many modern ballets draw on works by some of the greatest classical composers, and it was to the music of Fauré, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky that choreographer George Balanchine turned for his hugely influential work Jewels.

And it's with that iconic triptych that Australian Ballet have made a return to the Royal Opera House this week, in their first visit since 2016, and their first under the leadership of Artistic Director David Hallberg.

Gramophone has an exclusive clip from the production, which features costumes based on the original designs, taken from the pas de deux from Rubies – the middle panel of Jewels. Rubies takes as its music the middle movement, ‘Andante rapsodico’, of Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra.

As Australian Ballet puts it, 'A New York Jazz-Age inspired work, Rubies epitomises the collaboration of composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographer George Balanchine. Rubies is a sharp neo-classical piece featuring dynamic choreography and an atmosphere of old Hollywood glamour.'

The dancers in the clip are Ako Kondo and Brett Chynoweth; the music is performed by the Orchestra Victoria, conducted by Daniel Capps.

Jewels is running at the Royal Opera House, London, until Sunday, August 6. 

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