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Stripes team up for night at opera

By Evening Standard 12.10.06

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Jack and Meg White are set for an unlikely world premiere at the Royal Opera House

The White Stripes are to collaborate with the Royal Ballet for an unlikely world premiere at the Royal Opera House next month.

Three of the rock band's famously pared-down songs have been scored for a 35-piece orchestra by composer Joby Talbot - formerly of pop band The Divine Comedy - including The Hardest Button To Button.

Mr Talbot said: "We wanted to take whatever emotion you got from the White Stripes originals and intensify that for the orchestra.

We did three songs on the spot and played a recording to Jack and Meg and it blew them away. They gave it their blessing so we went ahead with the rest of the album."