PRESS RELEASE: BLACK SABBATH THE BALLET ANNOUNCED BY CARLOS ACOSTA, DIRECTOR OF BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET

[trog]

Here's a little youtube video

 

[FionaM]

I appreciate it’s early days in the creation process, and it’s short clip out of context … looks fun but tame to me.  

[Jan McNulty]

I agree Fiona.  But what I did like was where (not in the obvious way) you get the impression of guitars being played.

 

The one thing that I am wondering is if the music is being composed we won't actually hear Black Sabbath. 

[Emeralds]

I like what I’ve seen so far! (Reminds me a bit of Forsythe’s Playlist and Blake Works I.) Will be interested to see how it develops- early days still. 

[Sim]

Sadler’s Wells have announced that they have added a matinee to the London run due to heavy demand for tickets.  Get in there if you haven’t already!  

[JNC]

It’s great to see this has sold so well (completely sold out in Birmingham too). Hopefully it it’s good it’ll get revived quickly next year. There’s a lot of good potential here so will watch reviews with anticipation as sadly I don’t think I can go to this one!

[Richard LH]

Not very inspiring, for me, from this clip...a few standard ballet moves mixed in repetitively with a bit of half-hearted air guitar, cliched jumping on the spot on two feet, and mild head banging. Not convinced that  either "Paranoid" or ballet benefits from this treatment! 

Edited June 6, 2023 by Richard LH

[Ondine]

A little more here and Carlos Acosta talking 

 

[Odyssey]

A glimpse of a rehearsal

 

[Roberta]

 I thought I'd update this with the news that the pub where Black Sabbath began in Birmingham, The Crown,  has been listed at Grade II

 

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/in-your-area/midlands/birmingham-cavern-club-cradle-heavy-metal-listed

 

 

[FionaM]

I found the ballet disappointing… more like a high school musical.  I had been expecting something to match the fabulous poster of the female dancer with a guitar and hair.  Even the costumes and lighting didn’t measure up.  Oh well. 

[Roberta]

I always thought it was a bums on seats fundraiser of a ballet, a piece of clever marketing by Carlos Acosta. It certainly gained a great deal of publicity and filled theatres. 

[art_enthusiast]

I loved it. I hope they do similar pieces in the future. Very good heritage piece for Birmingham.

[Bruce Wall]

I went to the matinee after the Sadler's premiere.  It was all that I could get a ticket for and was grateful at that.  I had to rearrange my schedule to make it I remember.  I really wanted to like this after all the response here and the hype.  I really wanted it to be a hopeful marker for BRB's new leadership.  I found it tawdry and boring.  It was bitterly disappointing.  You'd have to pay me to see it again.   Best wishes to those who love it.  

 

 

Edited March 31 by Bruce Wall