From the Score to the Stage
Justin's compositions for ballet take two paths to the stage. Some are written for movement from the first note. Three Turns was scored with dancers in mind, its narrative left open by design as an invitation for a choreographer to interpret. Others begin as solo piano works and find their way to dance later. Behind the Smile began at the keyboard before Diablo Ballet asked to set it to choreography, giving the music a second life through movement.
His longest-running collaboration has been with Diablo Ballet, one of the Bay Area's most celebrated dance companies. Their dancers have performed his music on stage and on film for over a decade. Each collaboration begins with a score and ends somewhere far beyond it.
The orchestral works themselves have been recorded with the Budapest Scoring Orchestra, one of Eastern Europe's most respected recording ensembles. It is a rare opportunity for a composer working independently to hear his symphonic writing performed and captured at full professional weight.
Beyond the ballet, his catalog includes concert works for orchestra and chamber ensemble. Trauer is a string quintet written during the early days of the Covid pandemic. From Another Time, performed by the Diablo Symphony, evokes a melody from a distant land. These are compositions written for the hall rather than the stage, each shaped by its own moment.
"Justin's music has immediate appeal and a common touch — music that will be enjoyed by everyone."
Matilda HofmanConductor & Music Director, Diablo Symphony
"Diablo Ballet has had the incredible fortune of having film and ballets composed by Justin Levitt. For dance, that's the perfect marriage."
Lauren JonasArtistic Director, Diablo Ballet
