Carl Davis, born in New York in 1936, moved to London in 1960 and is known for composing symphonic works, ballets, and over 50 silent film scores.
Cultural Impact
Carl Davis's score for Abel Gance's 1927 film "Napoleon" stimulated a global revival of silent film performances with live orchestra.
Recording & Production
This complete recording of "Aladdin" was made in 2005 with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS in Kuala Lumpur.
Notable Performances
After its premiere, "Aladdin" saw a new, more lavish production open in 2008 by the National Ballet of Japan, which was revived the following year.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Composer Carl Davis drew inspiration for "Aladdin" from the "Scheherazade: 1001 Nights" source, which revealed deeper levels to the familiar pantomime story.
Compositional Technique
Carl Davis incorporated Chinese pentatonic scales and Indian Raga modes into the music for "Aladdin" to suggest Chinese and Near-Eastern elements.
Composition History
Carl Davis's ballet "Aladdin" was commissioned by Scottish Ballet and premiered at The Edinburgh Festival Theatre on December 20th, 2000.
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