Jewels (Royal Ballet)

"Jewels" is the kind of ballet that only really works when danced to near perfection. The corps have some attractive groupings but ultimately this is all about the soloists. At the performance I caught (sadly only the one viewing this run) it was pretty solid across the board with some truly inspiring dancing in places.

"Emeralds" is rapidly becoming my favourite of the pieces but it's probably the most difficult to bring off. The Fauré score is very attractive but a touch soporific and the elegant lines and serene lighting don't help matters. The corps weren't in sparkling form but were clearly well rehearsed, a couple of untidy formations ruining the effortless air. Roberta Marquez is well suited to the lead role but didn't make much of it. She has the role well within her grasp yet emotionally it was an oddly dull watch, musicality largely eluded her. The same cannot be said of Leanne Benjamin who should be nearing retirement yet shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. This was simply a wondrous performance, there's nothing truly flashy about the roles of "Emeralds" but Benjamin just made for entrancing viewing, the ticking clock section was impossibly precise. Of the men, Steven McRae came out top with his usual line of impressive leaps and Valeri Hristov proved himself an excellent partnerer.

Rubies" is the true crowd pleaser and with Alexandra Ansanelli giving her retirement performance there was little to complain about. The Stravinsky is always worth hearing live and the Royal Opera House Orchestra made a very fine noise all evening. Laura McCulloch looked like she was working hard but she pulled it off with aplomb. The lead pairing could scarcely be bettered. Carlos Acosta looks more than a little ridiculous in the silly mini-skirt assigned to the men but he danced with real bravado. Ansanelli may have been miscast many times in her sadly brief stay with the Royal but this is a role she's perfect at. Adding to the lighting-quick steps with a large shot of flair and no small amount of sexiness, she really was on fire. The flower throw at the curtain call was a little stingy but the applause certainly wasn't. A very fine performance from all involved.

"Diamonds" as a total work always disappoints me. Whilst the central pas de deux is simply ravishing everything else strikes me as window-dressing. The opening section has the corps milling about in quite fascinating but not terribly effective formations, the conclusion (excepting the final, epic synchronised section) is too complex for its own good, the interlocking of the pairs of dancers just ends up looking messy. With Alina Cojocaru and Rupert Pennefather at the centre though, I had little to complain about. Cojocaru is unequalled in her ability to make very difficult steps look impossibly easy. There's a grace to her that I've never seen from any other dancer, her soaring extensions so unbelievably lyrical. Pennefather paled into the background to a degree but that's partly a testament to his careful but unflashy partnering.

"Jewels" is never going to be my favourite work but it certainly has its moments and with the flashes of genius from Benjamin, Ansanelli and Cojocaru there was much to enjoy. I'm still not completely convinced the corps is entirely comfortable with the style but they were perfectly well rehearsed and bristled with energy. A fine performance of a work that offers a little bit of something for everyone.