TEASER // George Balanchine’s Jewels // Emeralds Early in his career, Balanchine worked in France at the Ballets Russes. Emeralds is the French-inspired section of Jewels, and features music by the French composer Gabriel Fauré. When he was making Emeralds, Balanchine thought of ballets that were choreographed in an earlier time during the Romantic era, like Giselle. He was inspired by those ballets and by his ideas of France, saying Emeralds represents “an evocation of France—the France of elegance, comfort, dress, perfume.” George Balanchine’s Jewels showcases three distinct styles of neoclassical ballet in one brilliant evening. Choreographed in 1967, it was inspired by Balanchine’s visit to Claude Arpels’ jewelry showroom in New York City. The costumes were designed by legendary New York City Ballet costume designer Madame Barbara Karinska and showed the essence of each jewel. Each ballet reflects a chapter of Balanchine’s career: Diamonds honors his early years at the Mariinsky ...