Steps of the Ballet with Robert Helpmann and music by Arthur Benjamin danced by Gerd Larsen

Following the success of "Instruments of the Orchestra" the Crown Film Unit produced this film for schools. Robert Helpmann explains how a ballet is put together with choreography by Andree Howard set to specially composed music by Arthur Benjamin. The principal dancers are Gerd Larsen and Alexander Grant. The Phlharmonia Orchestra is conducted by the film's director Muir Mathieson.

"Steps of the Ballet" is now available on Beulah Yesterday's Britain DVD "Classical Music in the Forties" . This also includes Dame Myra Hess playing Beethoven and Mozart, Sir Malcolm Sargent playing Britten's Young persons Guide to the Orchestra, Dennis Brain playing Beethoven's Horn Sonata

Buy "Classical Music in the Forties" at all good record stores, from Priory Records on +44 (0) 1525 377566 or on line at http://www.eavb.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• ballet
• robert
• helpmann
• gerd
• larsen
• arthur
• benjamin
• alexander
• grant
• muir
• mathieson

[odiloveseverthing]

how old was Robert when did this he was aruond 59 60 when he did chitty chitty bang bang his voice......sounds different.wow!

[A60stock]

39. He was born in 1909 and Steps of the Ballet was shot in 1948.

[balletnut]

That was fantastic!

I was lucky enough to see both Gerd Larsen & Alexander Grant live very many times, but NEVER lucky enough to see Helpmann. How I regret that.

This was lovely and it was marvellous to see/hear Helpmann and see Larsen and Grant dancing again.

[JeremyNasmith]

It's nice to see some footage of the young Alexander Grant. He was the original Alain in Ashton's La Fille Mal Gardee, and I had the privilege of learning the role from him when he came to set the ballet on the National Ballet of Canada in it's revival in 2004. He was also director of the National Ballet of Canada back in the early '70s.

[odiloveseverthing]

oh thanks! wow! you know what I just thought of since he was born in 1909 he would have been turning 100 right now since its 2009 ha! wow its too bad he died 1986 at age 77.