LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES OPENING CEREMONY DECLARES
‘I AM WHAT I AM’
 
POP MUSIC AND CLASSICAL UNITE FOR
‘Enlightenment - Music For The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games’
Available digitally after the Ceremony: After midnight on Thursday 30 August
on DECCA RECORDS/UMC
 

FEATURING: LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, BEVERLEY KNIGHT, ORBITAL, RIHANNA AND A HOST OF LONDON CHOIRS

London, Wednesday 29 August 2012: Decca Records today confirmed that new classical compositions, choral works and pop classics will feature on ‘Enlightenment - Music For The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games’ released in its entirety after the ceremony after midnight on Thursday 30 August 2012. The specially created album features a new version of ‘I Am What I Am’, the Gloria Gaynor classic performed by Beverley Knight, alongside the Rihanna and Jay-Z hit ‘Umbrella’ and eleven new compositions by the Tony Award winning, Grammy nominated pairing of Martin Koch and Nick Gilpin.

Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by David Charles Abell, the new music created for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games was composed especially for the event by Martin Koch and Nick Gilpin, the team responsible for the orchestration and music arrangements of Broadway hits Billy Elliot and Mamma Mia. Two other tracks entitled ‘Principia’ and ‘Spirit In Motion’ (sung by Denise Leigh) have been composed and written by British composer Errollyn Wallen. ‘Principia’ brings together choirs from all around London and is performed by Barts Choir, London Chorus, Hackney Singers, London Gay Men’s Chorus, Lewisham Choral Society and Hackney Empire Community Choir.

All of the momentous London 2012 souvenir albums have been 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). ‘Enlightenment - Music For The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games’ is released immediately on the world’s foremost download and streaming platforms after the ceremony after midnight on Thursday 30 August. Upon its release, “Isles of Wonder – Music For The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games” featuring the hit single ‘Caliban’s Dream’ by Underworld, shot to number one in the UK and ten other countries and gained top Ten chart positions around the world. The album registered top ten in 42 countries.

Co-artistic directors, Jenny Sealy and Bradley Hemmings, created the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. They promised that ‘Enlightenment’ would be a spectacular celebration of the inspirational spirit of the Paralympic Games that challenges the perceptions of human possibility.

Groundbreaking in its inclusivity and innovative staging, the Ceremony showcased the excellence of deaf and disabled artists and opened with a fly past by ‘Aerobility’, a British charity that trains disabled people to become pilots. The Ceremony, took place on Wednesday 29 August in the Olympic Stadium, and included an Adult Volunteer Cast of over 3000, a Children Volunteer Cast of over 100 and a Professional Cast of over 100. 50 Specialist performers in the London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony took part in an eight-week circus skills training programme.

Full Tracklisting:

1) London Symphony Orchestra                  Prologue *

2) London Symphony Orchestra                  Jasmine’s Theme *

3) Various Choirs                                             Principia **

4) London Symphony Orchestra                  Spirit In Motion **

5) London Symphony Orchestra                  Declaration Of The Games *

6) London Symphony Orchestra                  Paralympic Anthem *

7) London Symphony Orchestra                  Brave New World *

8) London Symphony Orchestra                  Handel: Eternal Source Of Light Divine

9) London Symphony Orchestra                  Navigation *

10) London Symphony Orchestra                  Storm *

11) London Symphony Orchestra                  Gravity *

12) London Symphony Orchestra                  Masque *

13) Orbital  Where Is It Going? (Paralympics Mix) / Spasticus Autisticus

14) London Symphony Orchestra Glass *

15) London Symphony Orchestra Entry Of The Flame *

16) Beverley Knight  I Am What I Am

17) Various Choirs  National Anthem

18) Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z  Umbrella (Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Radio Edit)

* Martin Koch & Nick Gilpin

** Errollyn Wallen

‘Enlightenment - Music For The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games’
Available digitally on: after midnight on Thursday 30 August.