Commissioned to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the painter L.S. Lowry in 1987, this award-winning ballet celebrates the life and work of a unique artist.

Created by Gillian Lynne (choreographer of Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), in collaboration with the composer Carl Davis (acclaimed composer for the films Pride & Prejudice and The French Lieutenant's Woman), this memorable production, filmed in 1987, is performed by the Northern Ballet Theatre and led by ex-Royal Ballet and stars Christopher Gable and Moira Shearer.

Re-mastered for DVD, with the addition of recent interviews with Lynne and Davis, it gives a fascinating insight into the creation of an inspirational icon in the history of modern dance, which remains as fresh as ever.

Christopher Gable, Moira Shearer, Northern Ballet Theatre
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Carl Davis

Plus


Introduction by distinguished actor Albert Finney
‘LOOKING BACK’ - interview with Gillian Lynne and Carl Davis
Photo Gallery & Cast Gallery


Reviews
'A great dance actor, Christopher Gable had the ability to make an audience care about the character he was playing, never more so than with the repressed Lowry, seemingly always searching for affection but not knowing how to obtain it. I had forgotten just how powerful this excellent work is – it never worked as well in its translation from screen to stage – and its release on DVD is very good news.’
The Dancing Times

‘Commissioned by the BBC and originally filmed in 1987 to celebrate the birth of Lowry, this inspirational modern dance gives a fascinating insight into one of the most important English painters of this century.
The distinguished actor Albert Finney, who was, like Lowry, brought up in Salford, provides a fascinating introduction to the work which proved to be incredibly popular when it was first broadcast.
The dance exquisitely evokes the spirit and mood of Lowry’s paintings in meticulous detail down to the rather stooping “stick-men” stance of the characters in his paintings such as those depicted in Our Town. The costumes perfectly bring the pictures of these matchstick people to life and are by international stage designer Tim Goodchild who has over 40 West End shows to his name.
Composer and conductor Carl Davis worked very closely with Gillian Lynne to create a score that would aptly reflect Lowry’s life and paintings. His music has a rich North of England feel to it, with echoes of brass bands and the “clatter of clogs” but it also has an uncanny sympathy in being able to conjure up the personality of Lowry himself. In Davis’ work characters and incidents magically speak through the orchestra and unite on stage with the dancers. Such haunting and beautiful music also has a life of its own outside the stage and has been a big hit with the critics and public alike.
This production is a classic in the history of modern dance. In addition to the performance that has been re-mastered for DVD, BBC Opus Arte has also included a unique photo gallery and recent interviews with Lynne and Davis. As such this DVD is a marvellous tribute to Lowry.’
Audience Today

'This ballet, introduced by the delicious Albert Finney, with its fabulously filmic score by Carl Davis brings to life the unmistakeable paintings of LS Lowry. Davis’s music has echoes of Tchaikovsky and incorporates some superb piano pieces for the character of Lowry’s mother who had a love of the instrument.
Filmed in1987 to celebrate the birth of Lowry in 1887, the co-deviser/director and choreographer Gillian Lynne charmingly recounts Lowry’s life in Northern England. Both Christopher Gable and Moira Shearer came out of retirement to play Lowry and his mother, touchingly revealing their very close relationship. David Wilson’s urban industrial backdrops and Tim Goodchild’s costumes provide a nostalgic image of the North in the 1930s.
Lowry’s characteristic stick-men, cripples, balloon-sellers, the blind man, the organ grinder and groups of mill-workers are well in evidence, as well as the three rather mysterious ladies of his life - all called Ann. Each character is meticulously choreographed and beautifully performed by the dancers of the Northern Ballet Theatre.
Lowry lives a double life: a rent collector by day, and a painter by night. He was devoted to his parents and yearned for their approval artistically, which was never granted. Davis hauntingly captures this sadness in his moving music. I should think Lowry would have been well chuffed with such a tribute.'
Classic fM

Awards & Accolades:
Classic fM BEST BUY (July 2005)

DVD OF THE MONTH Dance Europe (March 2005)


CAT NO: OA0914D
FORMAT: All Formats
REGIONS: All Regions
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
LENGTH: 88 MINS
SOUND: DOLBY STEREO / LPCM STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT (Docs only)
RELEASED: 28/02/2005
NO OF DISCS: 1