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History

March 2011

On March 14 a double-CD of the music from the ballet The Most Incredible Thing is released under the name Tennant/Lowe. It contains the full performance score of the ballet with orchestrations by Sven Helbig.

2011 March

On March 17 the ballet The Most Incredible Thing has its first public performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. Its genesis can be traced back to a week in where, by chance, two initially unrelated events took place. Ivan Putrov, a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet whom the Pet Shop Boys had got to know through Sam Taylor-Wood, called Neil to ask whether they would write a piece for him to dance to. Two days later, before Neil had even had a chance to ask Chris, Chris called to say that he’d just read a story in a new translation of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales that he thought would make a great ballet: “The Most Incredible Thing”. This eventually led to the Sadler’s Wells production, choreographed by Javier de Frutos and starring Ivan Putrov, Clemmie Sveaas and Aaron Sillis. All ten performances sell out.

May 2011

On May 27 the Pet Shop Boys appear at the Sunderland Stadium of Light, joining Take That at their invitation as “special guests” on their first reunion concerts as a five-piece on what will be the biggest British tour ever – 29 British stadium shows – followed by a short European leg. “45 minutes of intensity,” says Chris.

December 2011

On December 31 the Pet Shop Boys appear at a New Year’s Eve concert on an island in Sydney Harbour.

On this day

2000

Working with Peter Rauhofer in New York City, Neil records the vocal for ‘Break 4 Love.’

2001

Neil is the guest on today’s edition of the BBC Radio 3 show Private Passions, where he talks about Dmitri Shostakovich, Noël Coward, Eva Cassidy, Francis Poulenc, Olivier Messiaen, and other favorites.

2005

It’s Election Day in Britain. Chris and Neil vote, after which they go to the studio to work on ‘After the Event.’

2007

Still on the European leg of their Fundamental Tour, the Boys travel to Berlin, where they will perform two nights later. They have dinner with Rufus Wainwright, who also happens to be in town.

2011

Neil is interviewed in a podcast for Word magazine. This same evening, a Dusty Springfield tribute concert takes place at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The Pet Shop Boys are unable to attend in person, but they contribute a videotaped message that’s played for the audience in which they recount several ‘Dusty anecdotes.’

2015

Once again Neil and Chris attend a performance of the revival of Closer to Heaven at London’s Union Theatre, accompanied by their friend and former manager Jill Carrington. Also in attendance this evening is their collaborator on the show, playwright Jonathan Harvey.