But it's not just the music that has made Sinatra at the Palladium one of the most highly anticipated West End openings of the year, with advance ticket sales topping £1.5 million, nearly $3 million.

Using what is described as "ultra-rare" and "never-before-seen" footage of the singer provided by Sinatra's family, the high-tech £5 million show incorporates digital moving images of the singer with live performers, allowing Sinatra to once again collaborate with dancers and a 24-piece orchestra.

An earlier, more primitive version of the production played New York's Radio City Music Hall for two weeks in 2003. Since that time the producers have gathered a new creative team headed by director David Leveaux (The Real Thing, Nine, Fiddler on the Roof).

A significant amount of the footage was filmed by Sinatra himself while in his early forties, using a 35mm movie camera. The show allows the audience to experience the performing icon at various stages of his career, from his formative years through the rest of the twentieth century, accompanied by his personal narrative.

Set design is by Tom Pye (The Glass Menagerie, Fiddler on the Roof) with choreography by Stephen Mear (Mary Poppins). It's particularly fitting that the show premieres at the Palladium, where Sinatra, who died in 1998 aged 82, made his European debut in 1950.

Sinatra at the London Palladium is produced by Running Subway LLC, the Nederlander Organization, Michael Gardner and Act Productions in association with Sinatra Enterprises.