Chroma’s Pre-performance Music Talk

The contemporary dance creation that is Chroma strikes Melbourne this week, set to shake up everything one might expect from a night at the ballet. In addition to doing away with tutus and points, it boasts a killer musical score – a clever intermingling of Mozart and Tchaikovsky with songs from the White Stripes.

We have British composer Joby Talbot to thank for this symphonic hybrid, comprised of his re-imagined, reincarnations of the rock-duos hits, including Blue Orchid and The Hardest Button to Button.

Before the show on Thursday June 12, The Australian Ballet’s Music Director and Chief Conductor Nicolette Fraillon will be revealing how Talbot merged two vastly different genres, pushing Chroma’s musicians (and dancers) into an an abyss of thrillingly unfamiliar extremes.

Accompanied by the live orchestra, Fraillon’s exposé will celebrate the unorthodox techniques behind this ballet’s musical mastery – such as replacing vibrato with some crazy tremolo and playing behind the bridge.

Set to the beat of some wonderfully wild percussion, the resulting score is spectacular – certainly according to principle dancer, Andrew Killian. “It’s amazing,” he told Milk Bar Mag in an interview last week. “It’s a different kind of music to what we’re used to – much more poppy. It’s nice to change it up.” Be sure to get along and hear what all the fuss is about.

Pre-performance Music Talk is happening at Melbourne Arts Centre, Thurs 12 June @6pm.
For more info visit  australianballet.com.au.