Immediately, Magdalena remembered, in fact, that she had forgotten to remove the horn and silver comb set with rose cut diamonds, usually used as a lucky charm for special circumstances, like the one she had just lived in the rotunda of the Opéra Garnier.

This hair jewel, a pure Edwardian luxurious product, had been transmitted to her by her grandmother, who had herself received it in present once from her fiancé, her dear grandfather.  

She was obviously completely surprised by such a request, however feeling confident because of the sincerity and goodness that came from this gentleman, she executed herself without further thought and removed the jewel from her hair, to give it to him with a determined gesture.  

A few weeks later, her precious head jewel was returned to her, moreover in perfect condition. It turned out that the gentleman in question, was only the famous choreographer, George Balanchine ; the grandmother’s comb in horn and silver set with rose cut diamonds, had been a revelation and inspired him the ballet entitled Joyaux ; in which the master’s neo-classical aesthetic tribute, celebrated the ballerina like a precious stone, melting into a wide range of incandescent romantic images.  

Furthermore, the most beautiful of surprises, was still, years later, as soon as Magdalena had finally succeeded in entering the ballet company of the Opéra de Paris, when mister Balanchine proposed her to interpret as the first dancer at Garnier : emeralds, rubies and diamonds ; the three parts of his masterpiece Joyaux.

Her eyelids were again flooded with tears… Nevertheless rather by tears of joy, which completed giving full meaning to the mythical speech of her grandmother : « all true memories are traces of tears ».

Text by Jean-Philippe Samarcq.