George Balanchine’s “Jewels,” first performed at New York City Ballet in 1967, returns to NYCB’s repertory tonight after a two-year absence. The ballet was a novelty when it first arrived: a fullevening, three-act, non-narrative ballet. The three ballets contained within “Jewels” — “Emeralds,” “Rubies,” and “Diamonds” — each create a distinct and contrasting world. Each work is purely Balanchine in vocabulary, style, and syntax, but each also pays homage to the dance culture of France, America, and Russia. Casting each section, therefore, is a tricky prospect, and the process can nakedly register a company’s decline or its optimal health. Not every dancer announced for the work during the current NYCB run would be my first choice, but there is always a chance that dancers will outdo themselves and that there will be some interesting debuts.

It goes without saying that the work was perfectly cast at its premiere; Balanchine tailored the roles to fit the talents of the dancers on whom he made it. It’s impossible to dispel the presence of the original interpreters, but these roles are rich enough that dancers who are diametrically different than their creators can still conceivably succeed. Turbo-charged Ashley Bouder could not be more different than courtly Violette Verdy, but when Ms. Bouder takes on Ms. Verdy’s role in “Emeralds” tonight — she danced it first in 2005 — I will be curious to see how she extends herself to fit the role as well as how she puts her own stamp on it.

Of the three ballets within “Jewels,” “Rubies” is the most frequently performed as a freestanding oneact ballet. Last week Megan Fairchild and Joaquin De Luz made their debuts in it when it was performed as part of a mixed triple bill. On June 23, Ms. Bouder makes her debut in the “Rubies” lead, making her one of the few dancers who perform roles in more than one of the ballets. There is always a special excitement to see how a dancer will shift his or her gears in these totally different ballets.

As does “Rubies,” the pas de trois of “Emeralds” contains one of the greatest roles Balanchine made for a man. It will be danced tonight by Sean Suozzi, who has danced the role before and is certainly capable of excelling in it. On Thursday night, the young Robert Fairchild will make his debut in the pas de trois.

While “Emeralds” and “Rubies” are danced by performers of widely different heights and temperaments, “Diamonds” is almost invariably cast with a tall, queenly ballerina. The role was created for Suzanne Farrell, and Wendy Whelan dances it tonight, as she has done beautifully many times in the past. Later in the run, Maria Kowroski will take on “Diamonds,” in which she made her debut in 2004. At that time she offered stunning lines but was just beginning to connect the emotional threads and architectural motifs of the great pas de deux. She has now had time to coalesce, and her upcoming performance should display what the ensuing years have added to her performance.

The next two weeks will show how much of the potential of “Jewels” will be mined by the current interpreters. The strengths and beauties of the ballets, however, are all but indestructible.