George Balanchine's three-part ballet, set to music by Fauré, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky, is considered the world’s first full-length abstract ballet. Balanchine, a Russian-born co-founder of the New York City Ballet, drew inspiration from jewelry designer Claude Arpels to create three distinct movements representing the character of precious stones. Each movement also reflects a different city: Paris, New York, and St. Petersburg. "Emeralds" is a tribute to French romanticism, scored by Fauré. "Rubies" draws from Broadway musicals, with music by Stravinsky. "Diamonds" celebrates Imperial Russia and the Maryinsky Theater, set to Tchaikovsky. Featuring jewel-like costumes, the ballet highlights the influences on Balanchine, often called the father of American ballet.
