“The challenge to me was to create music worthy of the greatest masterpiece of author/artist Jean de Brunhoff. I composed one scene for each of the 46 illustrations of the book, with music as wide-ranging as this humorously wild story. And then to create the multimedia that both respects the original and enhances the immersion in this magical world of music-as-theater. The Berliner Philharmoniker’s staff and crew compared the experience to a film being edited in real time. And as all of the diverse aspects of the production were assembled, everyone expressed both surprise and pleasure how everything ‘fit’ together. I challenge anyone to experience my “Travels of Babar” without at least a smile!” — Raphael Mostel
“Babar is at the very heart of my conception of what turns a picture book into a work of art. My favorite among Jean’s books, “The Travels of Babar” is full of alarming and very amusing twists of fate…dazzling, dramatic… Beneath the pure fun, the originality of style, and the vivacity of imagination is a serious and touching theme: a father writing to his sons and voicing his natural concern for their welfare, for their lives… Jean’s bequest to his family, and the world, shines from the books.” — Maurice Sendak