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PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Tue 18 May 2010, 11:32 am
by Sandy Shaw
http://www.jerwoodcharitablefoundation. ... php?id=128
The Pet Shop Boys & Javier De Frutos returned with director/dramaturg Matthew Dunster to hone ideas begun in 2008. The resulting commission is called The Most Incredible Thing
This has been refered to in another thread, but sadly the poster did not provide a link or any other confirmation as to how they knew the title!
Wikipedia entry concerning the Hans Christian Andersen story:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Incredible_Thing
English trnaslation of the story:
http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersho ... ing_e.html
Apologies for yet another thread on the ballet, but thought it deserved a proclamation!

Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Tue 18 May 2010, 12:06 pm
by Posh Boy
For a moment I thought you were quoting Steve Jobs...
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Tue 18 May 2010, 12:12 pm
by Patrick Bateman
Sandy Shaw wrote:This has been refered to in another thread, but sadly the poster did not provide a link or any other confirmation as to how they knew the title!
nickname is one of the most highly respected ballet dancers in Europe.
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Wed 19 May 2010, 4:03 am
by vincenzosz
I like the sound of this.
It seems like a great story for Chris and Neil to adapt into song and music. And it sounds like an uplifting yet observational story, which will will hopefully result in a less dark score. I loved Battleship Potempkin, but in the light of the Yes album and whatnot, I was hoping PSB would stick to that positive and lighter sound to their music. They seemed to have been brooding musically from 2002-2008, so I think a few years of light would be nice.
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Wed 19 May 2010, 4:36 am
by glennjridge
speaking for myself, the only way I would be interested is if songs with lyrics and neil singing comes out of this.
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Wed 19 May 2010, 7:23 am
by Sandy Shaw
glennjridge wrote:speaking for myself, the only way I would be interested is if songs with lyrics and neil singing comes out of this.
Very unlikely to happen I think!
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Posted: Wed 19 May 2010, 9:35 am
by bohemians.
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Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Wed 19 May 2010, 6:15 pm
by Sandy Shaw
bohemians. wrote:is it that story about hens?
No, but anything is possible using the artistic medium of dance!

Thanks to Wayne at
http://www.geowayne.com for running with the news about the ballet too!
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Thu 20 May 2010, 5:23 am
by Propertius
Marvelous choice of source material. The only thing bugging me is that I can't remember where I recently read about this HCA story. I saw it referenced somewhere else not too long ago.
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Posted: Thu 20 May 2010, 10:25 am
by bohemians.
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Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Thu 20 May 2010, 12:40 pm
by Nickname
All this information was said on this forum by me many months ago.
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Thu 20 May 2010, 12:51 pm
by Sandy Shaw
nickname wrote:
All this information was said on this forum by me many months ago.
Thanks 'nickname'. I don't think you gave the source for your information. At least we have some solid proof of the story now!
If you look at
www.geowayne.com today, he has given you full credit for first mentioning the title of the ballet!
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Fri 04 Jun 2010, 10:21 pm
by Sandy Shaw
The Boys have finished the ballet! (Info from Twitter).
I was just passing Sadlers Wells on the bus as I posted!
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Sat 05 Jun 2010, 6:01 am
by Naughty Zoot
Plot summary
When the tale begins, a contest has been proclaimed in which half the kingdom and the hand of the princess in marriage will be the rewards of he who can produce the most incredible thing. A poor young man creates a magnificent clock with different lifelike figures — Moses, Adam and Eve, the Four Seasons, the Five Senses, and others — which appear at the stroke of the hour. All agree the clock is the most incredible thing and its creator is named the winner. Suddenly, another man smashes the clock and all then agree that this act is even more incredible than the creation of the beautiful clock. The destroyer is to wed the princess, but at the wedding, the figures of the clock magically reappear, defeat him, and then vanish. All agree that this is the most incredible thing, and the princess and the young creator of the clock marry
PSB must be obsessed with Frankie Valli! First they record Can't take my eyes off you & now they've incorporated The 4 Seasons in the Ballet. Are they gonna change their name to Jersey Boys?
(There would be a Wink emoticon here but I don't seem to be able to access it @ this time)
Re: PSB Ballet is 'The Most Incredible Thing'
Posted: Sat 05 Jun 2010, 6:45 am
by Sandy Shaw
Naughty Zoot wrote:Plot summary
When the tale begins, a contest has been proclaimed in which half the kingdom and the hand of the princess in marriage will be the rewards of he who can produce the most incredible thing. A poor young man creates a magnificent clock with different lifelike figures — Moses, Adam and Eve, the Four Seasons, the Five Senses, and others — which appear at the stroke of the hour. All agree the clock is the most incredible thing and its creator is named the winner. Suddenly, another man smashes the clock and all then agree that this act is even more incredible than the creation of the beautiful clock. The destroyer is to wed the princess, but at the wedding, the figures of the clock magically reappear, defeat him, and then vanish. All agree that this is the most incredible thing, and the princess and the young creator of the clock marry
PSB must be obsessed with Frankie Valli! First they record Can't take my eyes off you & now they've incorporated The 4 Seasons in the Ballet. Are they gonna change their name to Jersey Boys?
(There would be a Wink emoticon here but I don't seem to be able to access it @ this time)
Good one. Or a touch of Vivaldi maybe!