The first true heavy metal ballet experience is a fact!
Carlos Acosta is turning up the volume on Birmingham’s musical legacy. Original Heavy Metal heroes, Black Sabbath, provide the soundtrack for “Black Sabbath – The Ballet”.
Black Sabbath forged their unique sound in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s home city. In Black Sabbath – The Ballet expect a spectacular theatrical evening featuring thrilling dance and original Black Sabbath recordings (including Paranoid and Iron Man) alongside full orchestrations of their work (another first) and original new orchestral compositions inspired by the sound of metal – all performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
In the second of three Birmingham-focussed commissions, Carlos Acosta was drawn to both the band’s work and its musical legacy as the originators of Heavy Metal. This full-evening ballet promises to be a unique undertaking with three composers and three choreographers, led by renowned Choreographer Pontus Lidberg (whose work has been performed by the Swedish Royal Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet) and Composer Chris Austin (whose work includes orchestrating the White Stripes music for Wayne McGregor’s Chroma) working alongside award-winning writer Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer, The Opera) to create an extraordinary metal symphony over three acts. Black Sabbath themselves have been closely involved in developing this unique collaboration.
Sparks will undoubtedly fly in this intriguing new response to Black Sabbath’s music and legacy.
“Black Sabbath – The Ballet” had its official premiere at Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Hippodrome theatre in Birmingham, UK.
The ballet includes eight specially reorchestrated BLACK SABBATH songs plus new music inspired by the legendary British heavy metal outfit.
Black Sabbath’s guitarist, Tony Iommi, had been present at some rehearsals and came up on stage at the end of the premiere to play guitar on the band’s classic song “Paranoid”. Iommi also took a bow at the end of the night along with the cast and crew. Also in attendance at the event were Geezer Butler and Sharon Osbourne, along with LED ZEPPELIN’s Robert Plant and ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA’s drummer Bev Bevan.
The chosen songs are:
* “Paranoid” (“Paranoid” album, 1970);
* “Iron Man” (“Paranoid” album, 1970);
* “War Pigs” (“Paranoid” album, 1970);
* “Black Sabbath” (“Black Sabbath” album, 1970);
* “Solitude” (Master Of Reality” album, 1971);
* “Orchid” (Master Of Reality” album, 1971);
* “Laguna Sunrise” (“Vol 4” album, 1972) and
* “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” album, 1973).
