runningrings Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Hi all, Does anybody know if an actual soundtrack exists of the Opening Ceremony of Athens 2004? All I can find is the soundtrack Unity, which doesn't appear to be the actual score of the Opening Ceremony. Happy to download, if anyone has a link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattygs Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Unfortunately there isn't a full opening ceremony soundtrack, like a few other Games have had. There are basically just bits and pieces all over the place, some of them not the Olympic version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMarkSnow2012 Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Unfortunately there isn't a full opening ceremony soundtrack, like a few other Games have had. There are basically just bits and pieces all over the place, some of them not the Olympic version. Yeah. They seem to have tried to maximise their revenues by releasing three official albums, none of which was specifically a soundtrack album- as well as "Unity" there was "Harmony" (classical) and "Phos" (Greek). Then Tiësto jumped in with his own "Parade of the Athletes" album remix of his contributions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikarus360 Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Athens 2004 doesn't has a soundtrack for the ceremonies, sadly. However I could give you a list of the names of the songs used, as seen from this website: http://olympicceremonies.wordpress.com/2004-athens-opening-ceremony-music-list/ (some of them can be found in the internet although not the specific arrangements which were used in the OC) Welcome Giorgos Panousopoulos – Olympia to AthensStavros Xarshakos – Zeimbekiko Arrival of the Greek FlagManos Xatzidakis, arranged by Nikos Kipourgos – Nychterinos Peripatos (Night Stroll)John Psathas, ERT Orchestra of Greece – Fanfare I (The President’s Arrival)Nikolaos Mantzaros – Imnos is tin EleftherianNikos Kipourgos – Leuko kai Galazio (White and Blue) AllegoryManos Xatzidakis, arranged by Nikos Kipourgos – T’asteri tou voria (Northern Star)Gustav Mahler, arranged by Giorgos Koumentakis – Symphony No. 3, movement VI Allegory (Eros)Giorgos Koumentakis – Erastes (Lovers) ClypsedraKonstantinos Vita – Passage Book of Life/DNAVerdi, performed by Callas – Qui radames verra… o patria miNikos Kipourgos – Diplos Elikas (Double Spiral) Olive TreeGiorgos Trantalidis – KarposManos Xatzidakis, arranged by Giorgos Trantalidis – Asteri tou voria Parade of the AthletesDJ Tiesto – Heroes, Breda 8PM, Ancient History, Traffic, Euphoria, Athena, Olympic Flame, Lethal Industry, Coming Home, Adagio for Strings, Victorious, Forever TodayNikko Patrelakis – Elliniki Omada (Greek Team) Song for the AthletesBjork – Oceania Opening of the GamesJohn Psathas – Fanfare IIGiorgos Koumentakis – Kampanes (Bells)Mikis Theodorakis, arranged by John Psathas – “Sta Pervolia” from Zorbas Act I, scene 6Spyros Samaras, arranged by J Psathas – Olimpiakos ImnosJohn Psathas – Fanfare III Tribute to the Olympic CitiesKonstantinos Vita – 28 The FlameClaude Debussy, arranged by J Psathas – Fanfare from ‘King Lear’John Psathas – Fos (Light), variation of Finale from Shostakovich’s ‘Pirogov’Manos Xatzidakis, arranged by K Vita – Peristeri (Ela Pare Mou Ti Lipi – Come Take My Sorrow Away) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningrings Posted May 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Thanks for that Link. Its such a shame, truly such beautiful music. With London, it is my Olympic score of all time - with Sydney, Vancouver, Salt Lake and Atlanta following. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 The composer of quite a few musical pieces for that ceremony, John Psathas, once had videos of those pieces performed at Athens' OC on his YouTube channel. It wasn't a studio recording of course, but the live thing (mixed with the applause) - but it was footage of high quality and I regret that I didn't save it. He took it down later - I suppose because the IOC and/or NBC stepped in due to his posting of ceremonial footage. http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnPsathas I have to say as well that Athens' OC, even if it was sometimes slightly too artsy and therefore lacked some genuine emotion, had some stunning music. My favourites Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 3 as it was performed during the "Allegory" segment - and of course the stirring and (very suitably) dramatic "Pirogov" finale for the lighting of the cauldron. Although that was a fairly ugly cauldron (the "big reefer of Athens"), it looked stunning when they showed it from behind, seemingly rising above the athletes' heads, accompanied by that great music. Low point, however, was Björk's Oceania - the song's message was great, but as it's almost always the case with Björk's songs and performances, it was simply too quirky and avantgardistic for an Olympic opening ceremony. The fact that she couldn't be lifted above the athletes' heads (which would have probably looked a bit embarrassing anyway) and that we could never see the world map projected on her dress added to my impression that they could have done without that performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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