Three ballerinas doing ballet.

Jewels

4 – 20 May 2023

In the Joan Sutherland Theatre

The Australian Ballet

George Balanchine’s Jewels is a three-part ballet celebrating his vision of three jewels. Visually and thematically structured around the motifs of Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds. A mesmerising spectacle that is both racy and refined, flashy and majestic.

A Balanchine masterpiece

George Balanchine’s Jewels is a three-part ballet celebrating his vision of three jewels. Visually and thematically structured around the motifs of Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds, the piece explores the idea of movement radiating from the body through each specific jewel.

Making its world premiere at New York City Ballet in 1967, Jewels showcases Balanchine’s atmospheric musicality. These contrasting works explore his time in Paris, New York and St Petersburg through the harmony of music and the defining visual elements of colour, shape and silhouette. Each of the three acts is distinct in style and mood, set to music by three different composers: Fauré for Emeralds, Stravinsky for Rubies, Tchaikovsky for Diamonds. Opulent costumes and sets unify each of the three sections to achieve one regal whole, which will showcase the breathtaking classical precision of The Australian Ballet’s artists.

A mesmerising spectacle that is both soft and sharp, racy and refined, flashy and majestic, Jewels is a lavish work capturing the company’s celebratory spirit in its milestone 60th anniversary year.

Presented by The Australian Ballet, with Opera Australia Orchestra

Trailer

Each jewel in this ballet has equal beauty and power. Emeralds, soft and mysterious. Rubies, sharp and stylised. Diamonds, brilliant and sparkling. It is a visual feast for the balletic eye and an enormous opportunity for the dancers to tackle one of Balanchine’s greatest masterpieces.

David Hallberg, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet

Artist information

Choreography 
George Balanchine
© The George Balanchine Trust

Music 
Gabriel Fauré
Igor Stravinsky
Piotr Ilyich Tschaikovsky

Costume design 
Barbara Karinska

Set design 
Peter Harvey

Staging 
Sandra Jennings

Original lighting design 
Ronald Bates, reproduced in 2023 by Perry Silvey

The performance of Jewels, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

Other information

You may also like

Carmen

18 Jul – 19 Sep 2025

Take an adrenaline-pumping ride through lust, jealousy and spectacle in this bold new production of an opera classic. When Carmen meets Don José, sparks fly. She won’t give up her freedom, and Don José won’t give up his girl. Their smouldering passion sets the stage for tragedy. This visceral opera is thrilling from the moment the curtain rises and the orchestra races away with the overture. It features the famous Toreador song, the Habanera and moving Flower song.

  • Opera
  • Opera Australia

Rusalka

23 Jul – 11 Aug 2025

A water nymph longs to live and love as a human and will sacrifice everything to get there. Superstar Australian soprano Nicole Car plays Rusalka. Rusalka longs for light, love and life on the surface. She’ll sacrifice anything to get it. But the water nymph can’t imagine what she’s giving up … or if the man she loves is worth it. Nicole Car is one of the most successful Australian sopranos in decades. Don’t miss her return home in her role debut as Rusalka.

  • Opera
  • Opera Australia

The Sleeping Beauty

21 Nov – 17 Dec 2025

Ten years after its spectacular premiere, David McAllister’s opulent production of The Sleeping Beauty returns to whisk you away into a magical realm of fairies and spells, good versus evil and a royal romance. Accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, The Sleeping Beauty is a dreamlike vision, evoking ballet’s golden era with traditional choreography and extravagant designs. The gilded set stands alongside over 300 bespoke costumes, wigs and fairy wings, designed by the award-winning Gabriela Tylesova.

  • Dance
  • The Australian Ballet

Checking availability