Joby Talbot‘s music for the new full-length Royal Ballet production, Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland, has received glowing praise from critics after its world premiere on February 28.
Described as a ‘stunning’ and ‘exuberant’ musical journey through the magical landscape created by designer Bob Crowley and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, Talbot’s vivid score has been viewed as central to the success of the ballet, which received a standing ovation on its opening night.
The Times described the music as
‘utterly enchanting, a tapestry of wonder and mystery that shimmers with rich characterisation’
while The Guardian stated that the
‘first credit has to go to Joby Talbot’s score … with weird and wayward textures, vividly descriptive melodies and a shimmer of emotion, this is music that is not only sophisticated, but also danceable.’
Further praise for the music:
‘Talbot’s score is the trump card for ‘Alice’. It’s a dazzling array of melodies and shimmering percussion, usefully atmospheric and dancey, yet sophisticated enough to feel like more than a mere support. It’s one of the things that makes ‘Alice’ enjoyable.
‘ (New York Times)
‘An out-and-out success is Joby Talbot’s wonderful score, vivid, eclectic, lyrical, dramatic, full of colour and apt to characters and incident.’ (The Sunday Times)
‘Their task is made so much easier by the superb, perfectly attuned, tic-toc musical smorgasbord by Joby Talbot.’ (Ballet News)
‘This is a gigantic orchestra with weird percussion and ram’s horn trumpets emitting a positive Niagara Falls of picturesque music. … Talbot, for his industry, zeal and vigorously eclectic story-painting, he’s man of the match.’ (The Arts Desk)
‘With Joby Talbot’s inventive score driving the action and setting the mood … this romps along, building scene after scene of breathtaking invention’ (The Express)