Mythodea: Difference between revisions

'''''Mythodea — Music for the NASA Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey''''' is a 1993 [[choral symphony]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.vangelismovements.com/mythodeabooklet.htm |title= 2001 concert program |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref> by Greek electronic composer and artist [[Vangelis]]. Originally premiered in concert in 1993,<ref name="1993program">1993 concert program.</ref> it was published in 2001 by Vangelis' new record label [[Sony Classical]], which also set up the [[NASA]] connection and promoted a new concert.<ref name="klem">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/klem107.htm |title= ''KLEMblad'' magazine, issue 107 |date= October 2001 |author= Vangelis |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref>

The 2001 version of ''Mythodea'' was recorded and played on-stage by: Vangelis on synthesizers and keyboards, the [[London Metropolitan Orchestra]] augmented by two [[harp]]ists, sopranos [[Kathleen Battle]] and [[Jessye Norman]], the chorus of the [[Greek National Opera]], and, for the concert only, the Seistron and Typana percussion ensembles. The concert was held in Athens, Greece on June 28, 2001, and the record was officially released on October 23, 2001, to coincide with the [[2001 Mars Odyssey]] spacecraft entering the orbit of planet [[Mars]]. A video of the concert was released in early 2002.<ref name="elsewconcerts">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/concerts.htm |title= "Elsewhere": Vangelis' Concerts |author= Lodewijks, Dennis |date=Jan 2005 |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref>

The world premiere of ''Mythodia'' (first spelling) took place on July 13, 1993 as a public performance at the [[Odeon of Herodes Atticus|Herodes Atticus Theater]], in [[Athens]], [[Greece]], for charity purposes. On stage were: Vangelis, who provided the full musical score accompanied by two [[harp]]ists; [[mezzo-soprano]] Markella Hatziana, [[soprano]] Lucienne Deval, and the [[choir|chorus]] and [[percussion]] of the Greek National Lyric Stage, conducted by Yvan Cassar.<ref name="1993program" />

''Mythodia'' was then a piece in seven movements.<ref name="elsewconcerts" /> Vangelis not only composed the music, he also wrote the lyrics<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newbrain.gr/mythodea/text.htm |title= Lyrics of ''Mythodea'' in Greek |author= Vangelis |accessdate= 2006-08-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930104735/http://www.newbrain.gr/mythodea/text.htm |archivedate= September 30, 2007 }}</ref> in [[Ancient Greek]].<ref name="movements">{{cite web |url= http://www.vangelismovements.com/mythodea.htm |title= Album review |author=de Vries, Ivar |publisher= Movements |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref> In a 2001 interview with ''KLEMblad'' magazine, Vangelis stated,

{{cquote| I made up the name ''Mythodea'' from the words myth and ode. And I felt in it a kind of shared or common path with NASA's current exploration of the planet [Mars]. Whatever we use as a key — music, mythology, science, mathematics, astronomy — we are all working to decode the mystery of creation, searching for our deepest roots.<ref name="nasa">{{cite web|url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/vangelis01.html|publisher=NASA||title=Vangelis: Mythodea|accessdate=August 20, 2016}}</ref>}}

The concert was filmed by a 20 members of camera crew, and taped for later broadcast on TV in November, and release on DVD.<ref name="Billboard25"/> The budget was set at US $7 million, split in half between the record company, Sony Classical, and the Greek government,<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2001/10/18/tlvang.xml|title=A symphony for alien ears|publisher=''Telegraph.co.uk''|date=2001-10-18}}</ref> which considered the concert a good promotion for Greece abroad and included it as part of the Greek Cultural Olympiad leading to the [[2004 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="Garcia">{{cite book |title=Secrets of the Olympic Ceremonies |author=Myles Garcia |year=2014 |url=https://books.google.hr/books?id=g1g1wLMSZv8C |publisher=eBookIt |isbn=9781456608088}}</ref> There were some objections raised, mainly by fellow musician [[Mikis Theodorakis]], over the use of both public money and an archaeological site.<ref name="elsew">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/concerts.htm#myth2001 |title= "Elsewhere": Vangelis' concerts/''Mythodea'' |author= Lodewijks, Dennis |date=Jan 2005 |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref> Vangelis himself, like in 1993, waived payment for his performance.<ref name="telegraph"/><ref name="status2">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/status.htm|author=Manolopoulou, Fouli (Vangelis production manager) |publisher= ''Status'' magazine |date= June 2002 |title= Vangelis Papathanasiou, the International Greek |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref>

The spectacle involved 224 musicians on stage, the same involved in the recording: Vangelis, two harpists,s), the 75-person<ref name="blake" /> [[London Metropolitan Orchestra]], the 123-person chorus of the [[Greek National Opera]], plus 20 newcomers Greek [[percussion ensemble]]s Seistron and Typana, that provided 24 [[timpani]].<ref name="Garcia"/><ref name="Billboard25"/><ref name="houtert">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/mthwitn2.htm|title="Elsewhere": Concert review |author=Van Houtert, John |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref> The performances also included Sony Classical soprano artists [[Kathleen Battle]] and [[Jessye Norman]]. In the back, a projection screen measuring {{convert|180|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|24|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height<ref name="klem" /> showed images of Mars supplied by NASA, combined with elements of ancient [[Greek mythology]].<ref name="elsew2" />

The number of attending spectators to the ticket-paid event was between 2,000,<ref name="elsew" /> 2,500,<ref name="blake" /> and 3,000<ref name="Billboard25"/> with another 30,000 people watching for free on a giant screen at the nearby [[Panathinaiko Stadium]].<ref name="elsew" /><ref name="Garcia"/><ref name="Billboard25"/> The concert lasted just over one hour, after which three encores were played: ''[[Chariots of Fire (album)|Chariots of Fire]]'', ''[[1492: Conquest of Paradise (album)|Conquest of Paradise]]'', and a combination of Movements 9 and 10.<ref name="elsewolder2">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/older2.htm|title="Elsewhere": News |author= Lodewijks, Dennis |date=June 2001 |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref> Mars itself made a special appearance at the concert as an announcer told the spectators to look for an orange spot shining in the clear sky above the orchestra.<ref name="gomez">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/mthwitn2.htm|title="Elsewhere": concert review |author=:Gomez, Samuel |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref> The concert was repeated the following day without an audience, to get extra camera angles. Despite not having been announced, around 50 people who showed up at the venue were admitted for free, authorized by Vangelis himself.<ref name="houtert" />

''Mythodea'' was expected to be performed by other orchestras, without Vangelis' participation,<ref name="blake" /> but {{As of|2019|lc=on}} that had not happened.

|rev1Score={{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=mw0000015711|pure_url=yes}} |title=Allmusic review}}</ref>

|rev2score={{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Monthly">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/daily/article.cfm?articleID=3882 |title=CD Reviews: K-Pax, Mythodea and Bruce Broughton Concert Work |author=Nick Joy |date=January 22, 2002 |magazine=[[Film Score Monthly]] |accessdate=August 19, 2016}}</ref>

|rev3score={{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Filmtracks">{{cite web |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/mythodea.html |title=Mythodea Review |author=Blake Neely |date=October 20, 2001 |publisher=[[Filmtracks.com]] |accessdate=August 19, 2016}}</ref>

|rev4 = [[Sputnikmusic]]

|rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/65878/Vangelis-Mythodea/ |title=Vangelis - Mythodea |work=sputnikmusic.com |date=February 2, 2015 |accessdate=August 21, 2016}}</ref>

The album was recorded at the [[Athens Concert Hall]] (Athens Μέγαρο Μουσικής - Megaro Moussikis), chosen for its excellent acoustics.<ref name="tanea">{{cite web|url=http://www.elsew.com/data/tanea.htm|title=Vangelis interview|publisher=Greek newspaper ''Ta Nea''|date=June 23, 2001|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref> For the recording, Vangelis expanded the original composition of 1993 by adding two movements, extending two more and inserting some new cues throughout. The chorus parts were also touched upon, with lyrics and melodic changes.<ref name="blake">{{cite web|url=http://www.elsew.com/data/bninterv.htm|date=2001-10-14|title=Blake Neely interview|author=Lodewijks, Dennis|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref>

Except for Vangelis, none of the performers of the 1993 concert reprised their roles. Instead, Vangelis was accompanied by the [[London Metropolitan Orchestra]] augmented with two harpists, sopranos [[Kathleen Battle]] and [[Jessye Norman]] (both Sony Classical artists as well), and the [[Greek National Opera]] Choir and percussion ensemble. Vangelis asked musician Blake Neely to make the instrument transcriptions and conduct the orchestra as well.<ref name="blake" />

Although the album was finished by the date of the concert in June 2001, its release was held back until October 23, 2001 to coincide with the entry of the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft in the orbit of Mars.<ref name="Billboard25">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.hr/books?id=_hMEAAAAMBAJ |title=Vangelis Prepares For Blastoff On Musical Mission To Mars |author=Maria Paravantes |date=August 25, 2001 |magazine=Billboard |volume=113 |issue=34 |page=50 |issn=0006-2510 |accessdate=August 20, 2016}}</ref> A promotional CD-audio was nevertheless given to the press at the date of the concert and a CD-audio in a blue velvet box was given to guests of a private dinner that took place after the concert.<ref name="uncledon">{{cite web|url=http://vangeliscollector.com/vangelis_mythodea.htm|title=Vangelis Collector|author=Fennimore, Don|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref> In 2004, two of these boxes were auctioned off online for charity purposes, fetching a total of [[US dollar|US $]]2,435.<ref name="elsew2" />

Two CD-singles were also released, both featuring a track called "Mythodea Special Edit" (3:57) which combined parts of "Movement 9" and "Movement 1", plus either "Movement 1" or "Movement 7". They were not widely available, so their original purpose may have been purely promotional, as were specifically a number of other CD-single releases.<ref name="elsew2">{{cite web|url=http://www.elsew.com/data/albums.htm|title="Elsewhere": Vangelis' albums|author=Lodewijks, Dennis|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref>

The album reached #1 in the sales charts of Greece, where it attained platinum certification<ref name="status">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/status.htm|publisher= ''Status'' magazine |date=June 2002 |title=Vangelis Papathanasiou, the International Greek |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref> and was nominated for the 2002 "Arion" Greek music awards, in the category "Best instrumental music". In Portugal, the album reached #2 in the charts and attained silver certification for over 10,000 sales.<ref name="elsewolder3" /> The album reached #39 in Italy, #46 in Germany and #75 in Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Vangelis&titel=Mythodea+-+Music+For+The+NASA+Mission%3A+2001+Mars+Odyssey&cat=a |title=Vangelis - Mythodea charts |work=italiancharts.com |publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=August 20, 2016}}</ref> At the ''[[Billboard charts|Billboard]]'' Classical Albums chart peaked at #12 position, charting 22 weeks,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/277731/vangelis/chart?f=900 |title=Vangelis Chart History - Classical Albums chart |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=August 24, 2016}}</ref> while #4 position on Top Classical Albums chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.hr/books?id=MxIEAAAAMBAJ |title=Billboard Top Classical Albums |date=November 24, 2001 |magazine=Billboard |volume=113 |issue=47 |page=78 |accessdate=August 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0]=ts_chart_artistname%3AVangelis&f[1]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=Vangelis |title=Vangelis chart results |website=Billboard Biz |publisher=Billboard |access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref>

A remixed version of "Movement 1" is included in the Vangelis compilation ''Odyssey: The Definitive Collection'' (2003). The opening march starts with less sound effects, instruments join in one by one more clearly, and an initial spoken countdown is absent.<ref name="elsewolder4">{{cite web|url=http://www.elsew.com/data/older4.htm|date=2003-09-24|title="Elsewhere": Earlier news updates: 2003|author=Lodewijks, Dennis|accessdate=2006-08-15}}</ref> The same "Movement 1" was used as the title theme of reality TV series ''Der Maulwurf'' (lit. The Mole), which was broadcast by German station Pro7 in 2001. It was also used in the soundtracks of the trailers for the Hollywood films [[X-Men (film)|''X-Men'']] (2000) and ''[[The Scorpion King]]'' (2002).<ref name="elsewolder3" /> Finally, "Movement 9" is included in the compilation album ''Classic Kathleen Battle /A Portrait''.

The DVD-Video and VHS were released on February 17, 2002.<ref name="elsewolder3">{{cite web |url= http://www.elsew.com/data/older3.htm |title= Dennis Lodewijks' Elsewhere |accessdate= 2006-08-15}}</ref> The DVD featured PCM stereo and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, 16:9 non-anamorphic image, and had as extras: artist biographies, "Making of ''Mythodea''", music video, an introduction by NASA, and written notes by Vangelis. The DVD-video reached gold status in Portugal, for over 14,000 sales.<ref name="elsewolder3" />

* [[Vangelis]]: [[synthesizer]]s, [[musical keyboard|keyboards]]

* Markella Hatziana, [[mezzo-soprano]]

* [[Choir]] and [[percussion]] of the National Lyric Stage, Yvan Cassar: [[conducting|conductor]]

* [[Vangelis]]: [[synthesizer]]s, [[musical keyboard|keyboards]]

* Greek National Opera percussion emsemble (album only)