'Ocean's Kingdom: Paul McCartney Talks His Ballet, Dances With Ballerinas In New Preview

The New York City Ballet's Ballet Master in Chief, Peter Martins, is well-aware that nobody is going to the ballet tonight to see the ballet.

"Every single person in that theater... is there for one reason -- not for the ballet, because of Paul," Martins said of the Paul McCartney-scored ballet, "Ocean's Kingdom," which premieres at the New York City Ballet tonight. In a new interview, McCartney and Martins explain how it all coalesced.

According to McCartney, he had already made some headway on the ballet score before he even got involved.

"I started a piece of music for another project that didn't work out... so when Peter asked me would I consider, I immediately thought of this other piece of music and I thought, yeah, this is what I should do with this other piece of music," McCartney said.

Martins made it clear that the music isn't the only element McCartney had his hand in -- he "determined what the whole ballet should look like." The costumes, for one, are designed by Stella McCartney and part of his "DNA."

"You did some nice paintings and suggestions as to what these four scenes should look like," Martins continued. "The only thing missing is the choreography, and even that he's made suggestions [inaudible]."

Aside from the interview, the video shows a good deal of Paul backstage with the ballerinas, making director-like motions with his hands, and joining them in a dance circle as his music plays in the background.

McCartney's score for "Ocean's Kingdom" is out on Oct. 4.

WATCH:

Comments

[RGKahn]

08:18 PM on 09/24/2011

WOW!!! That looks and sounds just fine. Looking forward to getting the music cd and maybe the DVD. Paul is like the Energizer Bunny, he just keeps going and going and goingMuch to the delight of his fans and the consternation of his foes.

[ClintBMD]

06:43 PM on 09/23/2011

A blinding talent who has lived life brilliantly.

[llen]

11:07 AM on 09/23/2011

Omg, sounded wonderful and looked great. Wish I could afford to go to NY and see it.

[AlfredE69]

11:45 PM on 09/22/2011

Wow, his hair is not gray.

[LMPE]

08:31 PM on 09/22/2011

Now THAT would be an impressive ballet!

[Pumpsie]

06:43 PM on 09/22/2011

Sounds like Holst and other Brit composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[timrose2007]

04:23 PM on 09/22/2011

The man is a genius.

[jl4141]

03:26 PM on 09/22/2011

Paul can do whatever he wants, because it's Ringo's World, and Paul was in a band with him once.

[ikesambobby]

12:05 PM on 09/22/2011

That man has coolness seeping from his pores!

[Christopher Eric Crase]

11:38 AM on 09/22/2011

Literally jumping the shark! Kidding, rock the ballet Sir Paul!