Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds at Orcas Center

Friday, November 20 at 6:30 pm, Orcas Center

— from Artha Kass —

Be transported to the golden, glorious Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow for the performance of The Bolshoi Ballet’s opulent George Balanchine triptych, Jewels, streaming to Orcas Center on Friday, November 20 at 6:30 pm.

This stunning work celebrates the cities and dance schools of Paris, New York and St. Petersburg, each bound to its own precious stone: emerald, ruby, and diamond. Jewels offers a unique occasion to enjoy Balanchine′s visually captivating work, as the Bolshoi is the only company authorized to film and broadcast his masterpiece.

This triptych was inspired by Balanchine’s visit to the famous jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels on New York’s 5th Avenue. He created this piece as an homage to the three schools of dance that have made him one of the most celebrated choreographers of the 20th century.

Emeralds, which Balanchine considered “an evocation of France — the France of elegance, comfort, dress, perfume,” recalls the 19th century dances of the French Romantics. Music by Gabriel Fauré.

Rubies is a crisp and witty account of the American style, epitomizing Balanchine’s work with Stravinsky.

Diamonds reminded Balanchine of the grandeur of imperial Russia, where he was trained. Mary Clarke and Clement Crisp wrote: “If the entire imperial Russian inheritance of ballet were lost, Diamonds would still tell us of its essence.” Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

This event is the fruit of a unique collaboration: the Bolshoi is the only company in the world allowed by the Balanchine Trust to capture and show this ballet in cinemas. The Balanchine Trust is an institution set to preserve and protect Balanchine’s legacy. In order to give you a performance that remains true to his style, dancers trained by Balanchine himself have contributed to help the Bolshoi dancers rehearse this dazzling choreography.

The apt motto from the Guardian for the 2015 season is “Ballet, at this level, is a belief system, and the Bolshoi remains one of its cathedrals.” Come and experience this magic yourself.

Tickets for the Bolshoi Ballet’s Jewels are $18, $13 for students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon – 2 pm. $5 Subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2015 season visit www.orcascenter.org.