BLACK SABBATH Soars Once more: The Ballet Returns for a World Excursion
Following a triumphant global premiere and sell-out UK excursion in 2023, the leading edge manufacturing “Black Sabbath – The Ballet” gears up for a brand new bankruptcy, hitting world levels in 2024 and 2025.
This electrifying spectacle brings the track of BLACK SABBATH, the undisputed godfathers of heavy steel, to the sector of classical dance. The Birmingham Hippodrome, the band’s homeland theater, witnessed the ballet’s reliable debut in September 2023.
The manufacturing boasts a formidable ranking, that includes a novel mix of parts. Specifically reorchestrated BLACK SABBATH classics intertwine with authentic compositions impressed by way of the band’s mythical sound. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia brings this fascinating track to lifestyles with a reside efficiency.
“Black Sabbath – The Ballet” world dates:
Luxor Theatre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
June 12-15, 2024
Grand Theatre de los angeles Ville de Luxembourg, Luxembourg
June 19-20, 2024
Staatsoper, Hamburg, Germany
July 9-10, 2024
The Kennedy Heart Opera Area, Washington, D.C.
June 4-8, 2025

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s director, Carlos Acosta, envisioned this mission as one in all 3 Birmingham-focused commissions. He used to be captivated by way of the long-lasting legacy of BLACK SABBATH and their pioneering position in heavy steel. The whole-length ballet guarantees a groundbreaking revel in, that includes the abilities of 3 composers and 3 choreographers.
Award-winning creator Richard Thomas (“Jerry Springer: The Opera“) joins forces with famend choreographer Pontus Lidberg (whose works grace levels just like the Swedish Royal Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet) and composer Chris Austin (identified for orchestrating THE WHITE STRIPES track for Wayne McGregor‘s “Chroma“). This inventive staff unites to craft a three-act “steel symphony,” a in reality odd fusion of dance and track.
In an October 2023 video from Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sharon Osbourne the spouse and supervisor of BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne, mentioned: “Once I first heard that Birmingham Royal Ballet used to be striking on a ballet to BLACK SABBATH track, I simply concept, that is so left box. It’s so no longer anticipated. Who would have ever concept the mix? And I simply concept, good. That is in order that available in the market that it’s glorious.”
BLACK SABBATH themselves haven’t been bystanders on this distinctive collaboration. Guitarist Tony Iommi actively participated, attending rehearsals and creating a marvel look at the United Kingdom excursion’s opening night time. He graced the level with a reside efficiency of BLACK SABBATH‘s iconic “Paranoid” along the solid and staff, a lot to the target market’s pleasure.
Including to the night time’s superstar energy used to be the presence of Iommi‘s bandmate Geezer Butler, BLACK SABBATH‘s bassist, and Sharon Osbourne. Mythical figures from the rock global additionally joined the target market, together with LED ZEPPELIN‘s vocalist Robert Plant and Bev Bevan, who no longer simplest toured as BLACK SABBATH‘s drummer from 1983 to 1984, but additionally lent his percussive skills to the band’s 1987 album “The Everlasting Idol.”

Acosta published early closing yr that 60 p.c of tickets at that time for the U.Okay. displays were purchased by way of SABBATH enthusiasts. He mentioned that “BLACK SABBATH is so other from the sector of ballet, and I sought after to multiply our succeed in. I hate to be predictable; I hate for the corporate to be taken as a right. We all know ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘Cinderella’ … [It’s] a good chance for us to turn other people the sector of dance.”
Austin, who supervised the track for the mission, mentioned: “Not like THE BEATLES the place you’ll purchase two monumental volumes of all their rankings with the entire instrumental portions, there’s no longer such a lot for BLACK SABBATH.
“When I used to be requested to participate on this mission I assumed, the place do you get started? The BLACK SABBATH catalog is big, it’s so wealthy and so various. So the method to begin with used to be beginning to slim down the quantity of subject material that we needed to paintings with that may furnish us with selection, with richness, with other emotional tones, but additionally assist us create this evening-length display.”
Austin added: “What I like about BLACK SABBATH track is the wonderful irregularity. The entire facets of track — the versatility of pace and really feel. And the odd early duration Ozzy vocals which can be stratospheric, it’s exceeding Pavarotti in time period of the prime notes and ringing energy.”
The songs selected for the efficiency are as follows:
* “Paranoid” (“Paranoid” album, 1970);
* “Iron Guy” (“Paranoid” album, 1970);
* “Battle Pigs” (“Paranoid” album, 1970);
* “Black Sabbath” (“Black Sabbath” album, 1970);
* “Solitude” (Grasp Of Truth” album, 1971);
* “Orchid” (Grasp Of Truth” album, 1971);
* “Laguna First light” (“Vol 4” album, 1972) and
* “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” album, 1973).
COMING TO AMERICA! 🩰 🇺🇸 🤘 https://t.co/J19jdXsMvd
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) April 25, 2024