Darius and Alexander

Take One Picture is an initiative of the National Gallery in London - each year the gallery selects an item from its collection, and invites primary schools to use this art-work to inspire cross-curricular projects.

In 2012 the chosen painting was The Family of Darius before Alexander by Paolo Veronese (1528-1588). Fairholme School in west London responded by commissioning composer Paul Ayres to write songs for a musical, devised by the pupils, under the mentorship of director Lee Grant and the creative learning charity Artis.

The result was an exciting show, using this snapshot of the classical history of Greece and Persia to explore themes of conflict, compromise, beauty, and fame. 

• The Stolen Moon

• choral - high voices accompanied
• music for theatre - musicals