Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Marking 20 years since the family movie Babe first appeared on cinema screens, ABC Classics presents a brand new recording of the orchestral soundtrack, conducted by the score's original composer Nigel Westlake.

George Miller's 1995 film about a pig who wants to become a sheepdog rapidly became one of the most recognisable stories in cinema - and as the film gained popularity, so Westlake's soundtrack took its place amongst the best-loved movie scores. But the glorious music had never been recorded in a way that was intended for enjoyment as a stand-alone soundtrack - until this year.

Working with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (who recorded the original soundtrack for the film) the composer revisited his original orchestrations. The result is the first-ever recording of the Babe music made specifically for enjoyment without the film - a showcase for the sheer brilliance of the legendary score, bursting with joy, optimism and drama.

Reflecting on the original task of writing the music for Babe, over 20 years ago, Westlake comments:

"'An unprejudiced heart can change the established order' was the official premise not only of the Babe story, but also of the film's production crew, every member of the team aspiring to bring life and magic to a tale we all adored. I was totally enthralled by the quirky, lovable characters and deeply touched by the noble morality of the story. Composing music to footage that had been edited with such innate rhythm and logic was a gift any composer would relish."