Max Richter releases ‘While The Flood Rages’ album

Composer Max Richter has released his new album, ‘While The Flood Rages’, via Decca Records. The 15-track work is derived from his score for the ballet ‘MaddAddam’, a collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor inspired by Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy. The project was a co-commission between the National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Opera House.

The album explores themes of ecological crisis, technological acceleration, and human connection through a continuous soundscape that blends traditional musical forms with digital textures. The music incorporates various elements, including processed ocean recordings, electromagnetic sounds from studio technology, and a mix of choir, orchestra, and electronics.

To mark the release, Richter is hosting listening events in several global cities, including New York, London, Paris, Seoul, Tokyo, and Berlin. The release is also accompanied by a crossword book featuring essays by Anahid Nersessian and Victoria Trumbull that explore the work’s central themes.