Floating Points Surprise Releases New Album—a Ballet Score About Pandora’s Box

Musician Sam Shepherd has unveiled Mere Mortals, the latest album and ballet score he composed. This musical piece was brought to life for a ballet of the same title, which is set to make its European debut at the Edinburgh International Festival on August 28. The San Francisco Ballet production, first staged in 2024, reimagines the tale of Pandora, the figure who famously opened a box unleashing evil onto our world.

Shepherd explains, "If you look at how her story was translated over time, she was completely stripped of her agency and kindness. Pandora's about bringing hell to Earth. She really represents curiosity and change." The album can be streamed now through Deutsche Grammophon.

The score was initially commissioned by Tamara Rojo, the artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, and choreographed by Aszure Barton. The narrative concludes on a somber note, with hope floating away from Pandora's jar only to circle around a planet scorched and bare, accompanied by the album's final track "Nowhere to Land."

Shepherd shared his delight in seeing his musical creation come to life through Cordula Merks' breathtaking violin performance, sparking a desire to write more in the future.