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For my Xmas gift last year my daughter gave me tickets to "Jewels" performed by the Paris Opera Ballet, choreographed by the remarkable George Blanachine. So I flew down to Sydney over the weekend - even though I'm on the last chapter of my book, to see it. And what a dazzling show it is. The story goes Blanchine was apparently dazzled by the gems in the window of Van Cleef and Arpels jewellery store on Fifth Avenue, New York. So he created three linked ballet pieces inspired by emeralds, rubies and diamonds. Each is a reflection of a different style of ballet and Balanchine's own life. Emeralds is elegant set to the music of Faure, Rubies is sexy set to Stravinsky and Diamonds is Grand Russia set to Tchaikovsky. As if all that wasn't enough, the costumes are designed by Christian Lacroix. But there was nothing too over the top, it was still superb classical ballet. Emeralds was dreamy and ethereal in the 19th century romantic ballet sense. While Rubies is non-stop energy and cheeky sass reminiscent of American jazz and show dance stoppers. The ruby red tutus were shortened to be more like a showgirl mini-skirt, while the costumes for Emeralds was gauzy tulle and classical long tutus for Diamonds, all with jewel-encrusted bodices. It's a brilliant, disciplined company and everything combined made it a deeply satisfying evening.
Sydney was freezing but my possum and merino top kept me snug. A girlfriend imports them from New Zealand where possums are such a pest they cull them and use the pelts blended with wool and silk to knit into socks to sweaters. I try not to think of Marmaduke.
Saturday night while I was at the ballet my cousin Damien and his girlfriend Andrea went to the lighthouse to watch the sunset and blue moon-rise. In the gathering dark as the moon rose and left a glittering path across the sea, right in front of them appeared - a single black goat. I thought they had all been caught. Damien said it looked so forlorn almost like a ghostly apparition. How lonely the poor thing must be.
Cheers.
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