Music From The London Olympic Games Opening And Closing Ceremonies To Be Released Digitally
Thursday, 19 July 2012
Written by Jon Stickler
The music that will provide the soundtrack to the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be made available within moments of the Ceremonies ending. This is the very first time that music from any Olympic Games Ceremony has been made available digitally on the same day. ‘Isles of Wonder - Music For The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games’ will be released in its entirety after midnight in the early hours of Saturday 28th July 2012 and ‘A Symphony of British Music - Music For The Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games’ will be available on 12th August 2012.
Both albums will be released by Decca Records, one of Britain’s historic record labels housed within Universal Music (official music licensee for the London 2012 Olympic Games) with the support of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
‘Isles of Wonder - Music For The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games’ will be released immediately on the world’s foremost download and streaming platforms after the ceremony after midnight on Saturday 28th July prior to the physical release on 6th August. ‘A Symphony of British Music - Music For The Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games’ will follow on 12th August 2012 as a digital only release after the London 2012 Olympic Games ends on 12th August 2012.
Richard Hinkley, General Manager of Universal Music Catalogue said: “We are delighted that we have been able to make the music, which is such an important part of the British heritage and a massive part of our London 2012 Olympic Games Ceremonies, available the moment the Ceremonies end. We have worked closely with LOCOG to make these releases possible, and, unusually, the secrecy surrounding the two Ceremonies means that this will be the first time we have ever announced an album, letalone two, without a tracklisting.”
Dickon Stainer, President of Decca Records said: “The speed of these historic releases will be truly record-breaking.”
Danny Boyle, Artistic Director of the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, revealed in January that the Ceremony theme had been inspired by The Tempest’s ‘Isles of Wonder’ speech – from which the title of the album has been taken.
In December 2011 it was announced that LOCOG had appointed Underworld, the British electronic music duo, as Music Directors of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Underworld’s Rick Smith and Karl Hyde had previously worked with film-maker Danny Boyle on film soundtracks such as ‘Trainspotting’, ‘The Beach’ and ‘Sunshine’, and most recently on the Olivier-nominated music for ‘Frankenstein’ at the National Theatre.
Starring a cast of more than 10,000 performers, the theme of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony was inspired by The Tempest, the dream of Caliban - ‘Be not afeard the isle is full of noises’. ‘The Isles of Wonder’ will not only feature newly-composed music by Underworld, but also choirs, orchestras, vocalists and musicians alongside the chimes of a specially-commissioned 23-ton bell. The largest harmonically tuned bell in the world, it will be rung at 9.00pm on 27th July to mark the formal start of the Opening Ceremony.
The Olympic Games is regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate. The celebration of the Games encompasses many protocols, symbols, such as the Olympic Flag and Flame, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. As the Host City, London will be showcasing itself to the world, with an expected viewing audience of up to 1 billion people.
‘Isles of Wonder - Music For The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games’ will be available digitally on 28th July and released on all other formats from 6th August. Click here to order via iTunes.
‘A Symphony of British Music – Music For The Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games’ will be available digitally only on 12th August. Click here to order via iTunes.
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