BALLET’S ‘JEWELS’ SPARKLE, GLITTER
By: Janos Gereben

The San Francisco Examiner
April 29 2009
CA

Tina LeBlanc and Pascal Molat perform in Balanchine’s "Rubies."

Four decades after its creation, George Balanchine’s "Jewels" still
creates a gasp every time the curtain goes up, quite independently
from the ovations when the curtain comes down.

That opening reaction is a combination of "ohhhh!" and "awwww!" It
happens three times: first when the green costumes and backdrop of
"Emeralds" are revealed, then in registering the red glow of "Rubies,"
and finally, at the dazzling white of "Diamonds."

In San Francisco Ballet’s Program 7 presentation, Tony Walton’s scenic
design and Karinska’s costumes (in Haydee Morales’ new realization)
create a fitting companion to the glorious music and choreography
that follow. At the same time, they set the mood for some of the most
elegant and beautiful events in all performing arts.

Usually, the individual gems of "Jewels" are performed separately,
as parts of a repertory program; San Francisco didn’t see the entire
work until 2002, 35 years after the world premiere in New York.

The reason, I think, is the slow, quiet, understated choreography of
"Emeralds."

Using Gabriel Fauré’s graceful music (mostly from "Pelléas et
Mélisande"), Balanchine created a meditative, elegant piece, just
about the opposite of Stravinsky’s rhythmic excitement for "Rubies,"
and quite different from the "typical ballet music" of Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 3 excerpts for "Diamonds."

To the credit of the company’s brilliant principal dancers (a corps de
ballet performing with a discipline worthy of Balanchine’s standards),
Martin West’s orchestra (Michael McGraw as soloist in the Stravinsky
"Capriccio") and coaching by some of stars of the original production,
San Francisco Ballet is offering very different pieces, each in an
authentic fashion. The three coalesce into a superb evening-length
experience.

Preparations for "Jewels" have been extraordinary.

Balanchine star and Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson has invited Elyse
Borne, herself a Balanchine veteran of renown, to stage the work, with
assistance from three great ballerinas from the original production:
Violette Verdy, Mimi Paul and Suzanne Farrell.

For balletomanes, that list alone should produce a gasp similar to
the audience reaction to the staging.

At the Sunday matinee, Maria Kochetkova and Frances Chung realized the
graceful solos of "Emeralds" with elegance and unpretentious dignity.

Pascal Molat partnered Tina LeBlanc and Sofiane Sylve in "Rubies"
with brilliance creating its own gasps and, at one time, incredulous
laughter.

Vanessa Zahorian and Davit Karapetyan made not only those of Armenian
descent proud everywhere, but their "Diamonds" pas de deux seemed
to stop time itself, as they alternated fluid passages with quick
exhibitions of bravura.

These dancers were equal to those in Saturday premiere. Principal roles
in the opening night cast went to Yuan Yuan Tan and Chung; Zahorian,
Molat and Elana Altman; and Sylve and Pierre-Francois Vilanoba.

DANCE REVIEW San Francisco Ballet Program 7

Where: War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
When: 7:30 p.m. today; 8 p.m. Friday, Tuesday and May 7; 2 p.m. May
9-10 Tickets: $15 to $250 Contact: (415) 865-2000,