DVD + Blu-Ray:
Critics' Choice - Starstruck

Gene Kelly’s Love Letter to Ballet: An award-winning dance-film full of sparkle and Hollywood glamour.

The Opus Arte Critics’ Choice series is a diverse range of titles, featuring some of the most acclaimed recordings in the label’s catalogue at a very special price. In this series we celebrate many famous classics while also revisiting some of the more innovative, original and perhaps less well-known productions that the label has long been renowned for showcasing. All the new Critics' Choice releases contain the beautifully designed, original artwork and colour booklets which, along with a new unique cover design uniting all the titles, makes them ideal for collectors.

Inspired by Gene Kelly’s iconic work in Hollywood, Starstruck, winner of the 2022 Best Dance Film Award at the National Dance Awards, brings an immersive, theatrical experience in which audiences around the world can escape to the glamour and grace of Paris, 1960.

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. His jazzy, joyful Pas de Dieux was highly acclaimed at the time as ‘a breath of fresh air’ but has been rarely performed since. It has now been given a new set of wings for its life on stage and screen.

In collaboration with Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Scottish Ballet’s CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson and designer Lez Brotherston 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.

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

Original title Starstruck - Gene Kelly's Love Letter to Ballet
Genre Ballet
Production year 2021
Choreography by Gene Kelly; Christopher Hampson
Dance Company Scottish Ballet
Stage Director Christopher Hampson
TV Director Oscar Sansom
Sets Lez Brotherston
Composer Chopin; Gershwin
Orchestra / Band Scottish Ballet Orchestra
Conductor Jean-Claude Picard
Soloist Sophie Martin
Soloist Christopher Harrison
Soloist Bruno Micchiardi
Soloist Javier Andreu
Soloist Roseanna Leney
Soloist Nicholas Shoesmith