Joby Talbot

Joby Talbot was born in London in 1971. He studied composition privately with Brian Elias and at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, before completing a Master of Music (Composition) at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Simon Bainbridge.

Talbot’s diverse catalogue includes contemporary dance works for Wayne McGregor (Chroma, 2006; Genus 2007) and full-length narrative ballets with Christopher Wheeldon for The Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, ABT and The Australian Ballet  (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, 2011, The Winter’s Tale, 2014 for which Talbot was awarded the prestigious Benois de la Danse,  Like Water for Chocolate, 2022,  Oscar, 2024). For the concert hall  he has composed  small- and large-scale choral and vocal works (The Wishing Tree, 2002; Path of Miracles, 2005; A Sheen of Dew on Flowers, 2019); orchestral pieces (Sneaker Wave, 2004; Chacony in G Minor, 2011; Worlds, Stars, Systems, Infinity, 2012); concerti (Desolation Wilderness, 2006; Ink Dark Moon, 2018); and scores for the screen (The Lodger, 1999; The Dying Swan, 2002; Vampyr, 2018;).

Talbot’s critically acclaimed first opera, Everest, was given its premiere in 2015 by The Dallas Opera. His second opera based on the true story The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, a further collaboration with librettist Gene Sheer, premiered in November 2023.   Future projects include Piedra de Sol, a large-scale choral work for Craig Hella Johnson’s Conspirare, a percussion concerto for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and a violin concerto for renowned violinist Nemanja Radulovic.

Joby Talbot’s music is published exclusively by Chester Music Ltd. Part of Wise Music Group.