The Forest at Night
Alberga falls into a fairytale world.
Eleanor Alberga is a quietly rebellious composer. She draws inspiration from Jamaican folk songs, children's fairytales, ancient mythology - even chemistry. She was one of the first pianists to take modern dance seriously. And as a student, she arrived to performances on a motorcycle. This week, Alberga joins Kate Molleson and takes us on a journey from Kingston to London and beyond.
In today's programme, Alberga tells Kate Molleson how she came to compose the score for Roald Dahl's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, featuring none other than Danny Devito and Joanna Lumley. The opportunity came in a letter - one Alberga almost literally threw away!
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Prelude - The Forest at Night
Taliesin Orchestra, conducted by Peter Ash
The Wild Blue Yonder
Eleanor Alberga, piano
Thomas Bowes, violin
String Quartet No. 3: III. Adagio, IV. Allegro
Ensemble Arcadiana
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Narration IV, Stemother’s Dance, Narration V, Stepmother’s Blood Dance, Narration VI, Alone in the Wild Forest
Taliesin Orchestra, conducted by Peter Ash
Danny DeVito, Joanna Lumley & Griff Rhys Jones, voice cast
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Narration VIII, Night Music, Narration IX, Escape Dance, Narration X, Celebration Dance
Taliesin Orchestra, conducted by Peter Ash
Danny DeVito, Joanna Lumley & Griff Rhys Jones, voice cast
Produced by Alice McKee for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio
Last on
More episodes
Music Played
-
Eleanor Alberga
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (The Forest at Night)
Orchestra: The Taliesin Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Ash.- ORCHID : ORC-100019.
- ORCHID.
- 1.
-
Eleanor Alberga
The Wild Blue Yonder
Performer: Eleanor Alberga. Performer: Thomas Bowes.- NAVONA RECORDS : NV-6346.
- NAVONA RECORDS.
- 4.
-
Eleanor Alberga
String Quartet No 3 (3rd & 4th mvt)
Ensemble: Ensemble Arcadiana.- NAVONA : NV6234.
- NAVONA.
- 7.
-
Eleanor Alberga
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (excerpt)
Orchestra: The Taliesin Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Ash.- ORCHID : ORC-100019.
- ORCHID.
- 7.
-
Eleanor Alberga
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (excerpt)
Orchestra: The Taliesin Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Ash.- ORCHID : ORC-100019.
- ORCHID.
- 15.
Broadcast
- Thu 9 Oct 2025 16:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Composers A to Z
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.



