Today Mariinsky Theatre marks 100 years since the birth of G. Balanchine by the permormance of perhaps the most beautiful work of the choreographer - Jewels, the famous ballet in three parts.

At the end of 1999, the Mariinsky´s "Balanchine collection" was enriched with Jewels - a fascinatingly splendid production which once more caused a great discussion about the phenomenon of the "Russian Balanchine". The legacy of the missionary choreographer who asserted his own aesthetics of dance is, however, deeply rooted in the art of Russian classical ballet which is at last gradually returning to its homeland. And the Mariinsky Theatre, deservedly considered as "the house of Petipa", may soon be called "the house of Balanchine".

Working on the concept of Jewels, Balanchine chose for his ballet three kinds of "gems" - emeralds, rubies and diamonds. Jewels is a ballet highlighting, however, certain ages in classical dance, namely French Classicism, American Modernism and the Russian Imperial ballet, rather than dealing with precious stones as such. Although Jewels is regarded as the first three-act plot-less ballet, the motif of the gems, sustained by Barbara Karinska´s scenery and costumes, is essentially a mere vehicle to unite the music by such different composers as Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Most prominent principal dancers of the theatre Ulyana Lopatkina, Diana Vishneva and Sofia Gumerova will perform this evening.

News source: www.mariinsky.spb.ru
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