From a young age, some children are drawn to the world of magic potions, others fall straight into… the orchestra pit. With his father an oboist and his uncle a tenor, music is an integral part of Benjamin Ribolet’s life. Passionate about classical music and jazz, the violin became the instrument through which he channelled his early emotions.

While strings hold a particular resonance for Ribolet, as his notable work for quartet ‘Bible, les récits fondateurs’ testifies, it is through writing for orchestra that he has truly flourished. Highly adept at composing fitting scores, animation is where Ribolet shines brightest; notable examples are the series Alvinnn!!! & the Chipmunks and Xiaolin Chronicles. 

For Attention Menhir!, an attraction at Parc Astérix in Paris, he delivered a joyful, upbeat theme, following in the footsteps of his predecessors; Gérard Calvi among others. It was a perfect opportunity to assert himself at the head of a prestigious collective, by conducting the 75 musicians of the Orchestre national d’Ile-de-France, with which he records Tornado Chasers, a new attraction at Futuroscope, with a more complex and deep orchestration.

Influenced by the masterpieces of John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith, among other master composers, Benjamin proves a mastered handling of tension and delicacy in developing the musical theme can be observed. For the film Pérou, par delà les chemins sacrés, Ribolet created a score that is both personal and uplifting, blending exotic instruments with jazz tones with finesse, revealing a musical identity that is strong but never oppressive. A testament to his maturity.

written by Hubert Charrier – La Grande Evasion
Translation Tess Abbott