Nineteen eighty-four
Northern Ballet / Sadler’s Wells
Choreographed by Jonathan Watkins
Music performed by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia
Winner, South Bank Award for Dance
“Alex Baranowski’s composition is that rare example of a new bespoke score for ballet that works at first hearing, providing a richly diverse tapestry as a descriptive overlay to Watkins’ choreography. It has a surprising quality of Russianness, with an assortment of 19th and 20th century references... the composer illustrates the burgeoning love affair (and rebellious thought crimes) of Winston Smith and Julia – respectively represented by the cello and clarinet – through their progressive duets. The first – closing Act I – has an accelerating, lustful intensity, perfectly matched by the luscious intensity of Watkins’ choreography. ”
Legacy Variations
Dutch National Ballet, Amsterdam
Choreographed by David Dawson
Music performed by the Dutch Ballet Orchestra conducted by Koen Kessels
Based on two compositions from Alex’s All Will Pass EP recorded at London’s AIR Studios, the pieces were re-worked, extended, and two new compositions written to create a longer, half hour piece. Excerpts from the music can be heard in the trailer below.
“Alex has a very distinctive and special musical identity and his music is emotional, universal, vast and intimate at the same time; it’s music that speaks from the heart. The music tells a story of the heart, of a universal human love, of a certain longing and nostalgia. Legacy Variations takes you on a journey full of such expansive melodies they make you feel as if you could fly.”
A Christmas Carol
A dance film directed by Jacqui Morris
Choreographed by Russell Maliphant
Featuring a voice cast of Simon Russell Beale, Martin Freeman, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy Serkis, Siân Phillips, Leslie Caron
“From a clockwork mouse being used to remind us that this is a story being told by children, to a truly wonderful score by Alex Baranowski, this is a very worthy entry to the Christmas Carol canon.”