In perhaps the most welcome instance of worlds colliding, Paul McCartney has written music for a ballet, and the date of this happy marriage has finally been set. The former Beatle is releasing the album recording for "Ocean's Kingdom" with Hear Music/Telarc in the U.S. on Oct. 4 and with Decca label in the UK on Oct. 3.
Decca is notorious for rejecting The Beatles back in 1962, telling them that "guitar groups are on the way out" and "the Beatles have no future in showbusiness."
This will be the music legend's first time writing an original orchestral score for dance. However, this isn't his first foray into classical music. McCartney's latest, and fourth, classical album, "Ecce Cor Meum (Behold My Heart)" came out in 2006 and was awarded Album of the Year at the Classical Brit Awards.
Mutterings of "Ocean's Kingdom" first came last June, when McCartney told the BBC he had been commissioned to write music for it.
"That offer came up and I love writing music, the two went together and I said, 'Yeah,' so I just accept things before I even know what I'm doing," McCartney said.
According to the release, "Ocean's Kingdom" "tells of a love story within the story of an underwater world whose people are threatened by the humans of Earth."
The score will feature four movements: Ocean's Kingdom, Hall of Dance, Imprisonment and Moonrise.
"Ocean's Kingdom" will have its world premiere at the New York City Ballet on Sept. 22.
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