He is just fifteen, but to date he has written more than 40 works. Half Russian, half British, musician Alex Prior now has another string to his bow - he's conducted the orchestra for the Mowgli ballet at the Kremlin Palace.
 
He was just eight when he wrote his first symphony and ten when he gave his first solo concert at London’s Covent Garden.

“I want my music to bring people happiness and warmth. I don't like pessimistic music, I want people to feel happy and connected with nature and God, because I believe that music is a part of God. My music and anyone's music is actually God's music being written down by someone. I hope that people will see this warmth from this ballet and from anything else that will be performed in the future,” Alex says.

One of the youngest graduates of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he has written 40 works and plays five instruments. And on Sunday he conducted the orchestra for Mowgli, a ballet he composed himself.

Dancers from Moscow's State Classical Ballet Company were surprised at his professionalism.

“It is very interesting and very unusual to work with such a young composer. His music is unusual and unique. When we heard it for the first time we were surprised because we didn’t expect such a high level from such a young composer. The music, the score, it all is very good,” says Maksim Gerasimov, a troupe member.

But performing at the grand venue of the Kremlin Palace was not easy but this young talent was not deterred.

“It is a difficult hall to perform in because its acoustics are not the greatest on the earth to say the least. But I think that is a challenge and it makes it interesting for a conductor to find this, and it is not very comfortable for the dancers either, because it is just so big,” Alex says.

Source: Russia Today