STEVE THOMPSON RELEASES RE-TELLING OF ‘WILD SWANS’ WITH JOHN SUCHET

By Madeleine Anderson | Press Invite

Composer Steve Thompson has released a multi-media retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘Wild Swans’, combining visual art, narration and the trombone to bring the story alive for modern audiences. 

Narrated by John Suchet OBE, broadcaster and amateur trombone player, Thompson has composed a soundtrack to accompany Suchet’s reading of Andersen’s quintessential fairytale, adapting plot lines and adding music to bring new themes and tones into the text.

The adaption includes music by composer Elena Kats-Chernin, whose work Thompson first thought of performing on the trombone almost 20 years ago.

Alongside Thompson’s own music and rewriting of the story, Wild Swans includes illustrations that the composer drew himself. These are featured in a newly published book or as moving cartoons in a video version of the story.

Funds from the sale of any Wild Swans artwork, CDs, vinyl or audiobooks will be donated to Dementia UK, a charity that is close to John Suchet’s heart.

Suchet lost his wife to dementia a few years ago and has since campaigned to have greater recognition for how dementia impacts the families and partners of the people living with the condition.

The hardback version of the audiobook is available to buy at major book shops including Waterstones and Foyles.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM PRESS RELEASE

Building on Andersen’s timeless fairytale, Wild Swans is reimagined by Thompson as a piece that bridges classical music, storytelling and art. The project began as a creative exploration into how music could enhance spoken narrative, and it grew into a fully realised multi-sensory work.

This re-telling features a score that moves seamlessly between lyrical and dramatic moments, underscoring Suchet’s narration with emotional nuance. Kats-Chernin’s compositions, paired with Thompson’s own original music, evoke the story’s shifting moods — from loss and transformation to redemption.

The accompanying illustrations, drawn by Thompson himself, form an integral part of the experience. Available both in print and as part of the animated video edition, they reflect the narrative’s fluid, dreamlike quality and highlight Thompson’s multi-disciplinary approach to creativity.

Through this collaboration, Thompson and Suchet aim not only to introduce Andersen’s story to new audiences but also to raise funds and awareness for Dementia UK — ensuring that this imaginative work contributes to a deeply personal and compassionate cause.