In Monday’s (9/26) Independent (London), Adam Sherwin writes, “It’s been an epic musical journey, beginning in Afghanistan in April and concluding with Zimbabwe. The London Philharmonic Orchestra has finally recorded the last of the 205 national anthems to be played at the medal and welcoming ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics. But the Arab Spring means the work, which ended at Abbey Road Studios yesterday afternoon, may be revisited. Libya’s National Transitional Council has replaced the nation’s Gaddafi-venerating anthem, while a new country, South Sudan, came into existence halfway through the sessions. The musical marathon has taken 50 recording hours, with the LPO performing each anthem under the tutelage of composer and conductor Philip Sheppard. … The orchestra’s 36 musicians had just 12 minutes to sight read and master each anthem. Mr. Sheppard had to track down recordings of some more obscure works himself. … Mr. Sheppard said the most difficult anthems to bring something unique to are God Save The Queen and La Marseillaise because they are so familiar to most people. The longest anthem is Uruguay’s, which he tried in vain, to shorten.”
Posted September 26, 2011
