Opus Arte

THE WORLD'S FINEST OPERA
BALLET, THEATRE AND MUSIC

The Royal Opera House
Glyndebourne
Royal Shakespeare Company
Shakespeare's Globe
Starstruck - Gene Kelly's Love Letter to Ballet
Starstruck - Gene Kelly's Love Letter to Ballet

Sophie Martin (The Star Ballerina / Aphrodite); Christopher Harrison (Choreographer / Zeus); Bruno Micchiardi (Pianist / Eros); Javier Andreu (Sweetheart Man / Lifeguard); Roseanna Leney (Sweetheart Woman / Girl with Ponytail); Nicholas Shoesmith (Stagehand); Aisling Brangan (Bathing Beauty); Grace Horler (Bathing Beauty); Grace Paulley (Bathing Beauty)

Escape with us to the glamour and grace of Paris, 1960. Step into the studio, watch the dancers warm up and hear the piano start to play – a new show is taking shape that will be fit for the gods. One of the first choreographers to bring the ‘American style’ to Europe, the legendary Gene Kelly was invited to create an original work for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1960. Dancing the lead role of Aphrodite was the ‘Étoile’ of Paris, Claude Bessy, who had worked with Kelly in Hollywood and encouraged him across the Atlantic. His jazzy, joyful Pas de Dieux was highly acclaimed at the time as ‘a breath of fresh air’ and has now been given a new set of wings for its UK premiere.

In collaboration with Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Scottish Ballet’s CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson and designer Lez Brotherston (The Snow Queen, The Secret Theatre) have lovingly revived the original ballet and added a delightful new twist. You’ll be transported into the world where jazz meets ballet, and the stars align.

Gene Kelly’s pioneering choreography and much-loved style influenced a generation of dance-makers, and we honour his creative legacy with this playful new production. Set to Gershwin’s effortlessly cool Concerto in F, with extracts from Chopin, recorded by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra. We promise, Starstruck is exactly the evening of entertainment you’ve been longing for.

DVD

Genre: Ballet
Release Date: 29/03/2024
Sound Formats: LPCM 2.0 and DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: (extra feature only) EN
Catalogue Number: OA1364D

BLU-RAY

Genre: Ballet
Release Date: 29/03/2024
Sound Formats: LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio Surround 5.1
Ratio: 16:9
Subtitles: (extra feature only) EN
Catalogue Number: OABD7311D
Conductor(s):
Jean-Claude Picard
Orchestra(s):
Scottish Ballet Orchestra
Artist(s):
Sophie Martin; Christopher Harrison; Bruno Micchiardi; Javier Andreu; Roseanna Leney; Nicholas Shoesmith; Aisling Brangan; Grace Horler; Grace Paulley; Scottish Ballet Orchestra; Jean-Claude Picard
"Heavenly ... Joyful ... Gloriously graceful ... An enthralling hour of deliciously unconventional ballet" (The Telegraph ★★★★★)

"A mix of styles that brings out the best in Scottish Ballet’s impressively versatile dancers, who fizz and sparkle" (The Herald ★★★★★)

"Exuberant escapism ... A feel-good comeback to live performance" (The Scotsman ★★★★★)

"Leggy, sexy and modern" (The Stage ★★★★★)

"A stylish light luscious treat" (The Times ★★★★)

"Tremendously good fun" (The National)

"Flirty, playful and joyous" (Scottish Sunday Express ★★★★★)

"With beautiful costumes and a stunning set, this production is a visual feast ... a dazzling return to the stage for Scottish Ballet" (Broadway World ★★★★)

"A beautiful, energetic, fun piece, a wonderful fusion of jazz and classical ballet" (Forbes)

Sophie Martin (The Star Ballerina / Aphrodite); Christopher Harrison (Choreographer / Zeus); Bruno Micchiardi (Pianist / Eros); Javier Andreu (Sweetheart Man / Lifeguard); Roseanna Leney (Sweetheart Woman / Girl with Ponytail); Nicholas Shoesmith (Stagehand); Aisling Brangan (Bathing Beauty); Grace Horler (Bathing Beauty); Grace Paulley (Bathing Beauty)

Escape with us to the glamour and grace of Paris, 1960. Step into the studio, watch the dancers warm up and hear the piano start to play – a new show is taking shape that will be fit for the gods. One of the first choreographers to bring the ‘American style’ to Europe, the legendary Gene Kelly was invited to create an original work for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1960. Dancing the lead role of Aphrodite was the ‘Étoile’ of Paris, Claude Bessy, who had worked with Kelly in Hollywood and encouraged him across the Atlantic. His jazzy, joyful Pas de Dieux was highly acclaimed at the time as ‘a breath of fresh air’ and has now been given a new set of wings for its UK premiere.

In collaboration with Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Scottish Ballet’s CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson and designer Lez Brotherston (The Snow Queen, The Secret Theatre) have lovingly revived the original ballet and added a delightful new twist. You’ll be transported into the world where jazz meets ballet, and the stars align.

Gene Kelly’s pioneering choreography and much-loved style influenced a generation of dance-makers, and we honour his creative legacy with this playful new production. Set to Gershwin’s effortlessly cool Concerto in F, with extracts from Chopin, recorded by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra. We promise, Starstruck is exactly the evening of entertainment you’ve been longing for.

DVD

Genre: Ballet
Release Date: 29/03/2024
Sound Formats: LPCM 2.0 and DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: (extra feature only) EN
Catalogue Number: OA1364D

BLU-RAY

Genre: Ballet
Release Date: 29/03/2024
Sound Formats: LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio Surround 5.1
Ratio: 16:9
Subtitles: (extra feature only) EN
Catalogue Number: OABD7311D

Conductor(s):
Jean-Claude Picard
Orchestra(s):
Scottish Ballet Orchestra
Artist(s):
Sophie Martin; Christopher Harrison; Bruno Micchiardi; Javier Andreu; Roseanna Leney; Nicholas Shoesmith; Aisling Brangan; Grace Horler; Grace Paulley; Scottish Ballet Orchestra; Jean-Claude Picard

"Heavenly ... Joyful ... Gloriously graceful ... An enthralling hour of deliciously unconventional ballet" (The Telegraph ★★★★★)

"A mix of styles that brings out the best in Scottish Ballet’s impressively versatile dancers, who fizz and sparkle" (The Herald ★★★★★)

"Exuberant escapism ... A feel-good comeback to live performance" (The Scotsman ★★★★★)

"Leggy, sexy and modern" (The Stage ★★★★★)

"A stylish light luscious treat" (The Times ★★★★)

"Tremendously good fun" (The National)

"Flirty, playful and joyous" (Scottish Sunday Express ★★★★★)

"With beautiful costumes and a stunning set, this production is a visual feast ... a dazzling return to the stage for Scottish Ballet" (Broadway World ★★★★)

"A beautiful, energetic, fun piece, a wonderful fusion of jazz and classical ballet" (Forbes)