All About George Balanchine’s Sumptuous Emeralds
In celebration of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 55th Emerald Anniversary season, we are thrilled to bring emerald-themed ballets to the stage, including Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz. What else could be more appropriate for our season than George Balanchine’s lavish production of Emeralds?
Keep reading to learn more about the history of Emeralds, and come see it in PBT’s Spring Mix: 5 for 55 April 4 – 6 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.
The Jewels Trilogy
Emeralds premiered in 1967 at the New York City Ballet as part of a three-act piece titled Jewels. The works were choreographed by George Balanchine, who is often referred to as “the father of American ballet.” In each of the three acts, Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds, artists are costumed in each gem’s respective colors. Jewels is considered the first three-act storyless ballet, with the jeweled costume motif being the only consistent theme between the three. The three acts are often performed together but are also frequently performed separately as single ballets. According to Balanchine, these gemstone-themed ballets were inspired by his introduction to famed jeweler Claude Arpels.
Each act is accompanied by music from a different composer that reflects the varied dance styles and music of each work, thus giving them each an individual “personality.” Emeralds is French and romantic, set to Gabriel Fauré’s Pelléas et Mélisande and Shylock; Rubies, set to Igor Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, is American and fiery; and Diamonds, set to Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 in D Major, is Russian and classical.
Emeralds
Emeralds, the French piece set to music by Gabriel Fauré, is fluid and softly passionate, with elegant, graceful dances that seem the peak of lyrical romanticism. It is danced by two leading couples, three soloists, and a corps of ten women. The costumes incorporate soft green, calf-length romantic tutus, a rarity for Balanchine, who rarely used longer tutus.
PBT has had the pleasure of performing Emeralds as a part of Jewels two other times in its 55-year history, in 1997 and 2000. Interested in reading about all the fabulous places this ballet has been performed? The George Balanchine Foundation has kept a record!
About George Balanchine
George Balanchine (1904 – 1983) was one of the preeminent choreographers of the 20th century. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Balanchine studied both music and dance at a young age, graduating from the Imperial Ballet School and studying at the Conservatory of Music in St. Petersburg. He danced and choreographed for a number of companies across Europe before coming to America, where he co-founded the School of American Ballet in 1934 and later the New York City Ballet (NYCB) in 1948. From 1948 until his death 35 years later, Balanchine served as NYCB artistic director, choreographing (either wholly or in part) a catalog of 465 works.
Balanchine developed a signature ballet style that became known as neoclassical, combining traditional ballet with modern and abstract movements. His works often de-emphasized plot (as can be seen in Jewels), played with speed and syncopation, and prioritized technique and athleticism. In addition to his extensive catalog of ballets, Balanchine created works for Broadway, Hollywood, television and vaudeville, becoming an industry-shaping force in America and the world.
Looking for more Balanchine facts? Read our “Balanchine | 15 Facts & Beyond” blog post!
Stay tuned to learn about the other pieces in our Emerald Season’s Spring Mix: 5 for 55!
Spring Mix: 5 for 55 will perform at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center from April 4-6, 2025.