Jewels (2000)
Director:
Pierre Cavassilas
Writer:
Holly Brubach
Stars:
Eleonora Abbagnato, Jean-Guillaume Bart, Kader Belarbi
George Balanchine is a highly musical ballet director, His work is fascinating and beautiful to watch. This Jewels production from the Paris Opera ballet is testament to that. This production is a gem in every department. Throughout the sets (minimalist but still lovingly decorated) and costumes are just gorgeous, it has the effect of looking into a jewel box which came across beautifully. The choreography will literally leave you in a trance, which is exactly the effect needed for Emeralds, while Rubies' razor-sharp quick-silver-like choreography ideally fits the jazzy nature of Stravinsky's music. It's all very French and very elegant, and the choreography in Diamonds seemed to be paying an affectionate tribute to Petipa. The music by Faure for Emeralds, Stravinsky for Rubies and Tchaikovsky for Diamonds is outstanding, especially the Faure, mainly because it evokes so much emotion. The orchestral playing is ethereal and subtle for Emeralds, stylish and jazzy for Rubies and powerful in a hauntingly beautiful way for Diamonds, and throughout the sound is enough to transport you to another world. The piano solo in Rubies is superbly played.
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 DVD, $9.99 (https://www.zeusdvds.com/jewels-2000-dvd/))
