Mythodea: Music for the NASA Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey [LIVE]

Vangelis (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005OSX7
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,534 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

An avatar of orchestral synthesis for 30 years, Vangelis has only now made his full orchestral outing with the ambitious and epic Mythodea. Currently linked as theme music for NASA's Mission to Mars program, Mythodea dates back to 1993, when Vangelis premiered the work in a live performance. After the amorphous synthesizer opening, Vangelis is little-heard, using his keyboards only to support the large orchestra, 100-voice mixed choir, massed timpani, and the twin soprano leads of Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman. Echoes of Gustav Holst, Gustav Mahler, and Carl Orff suffuse Mythodea, with its stentorian choirs, rumbling percussion, and dense string writing. Singing a hybrid language, Norman and Battle spiral through Vangelis's evocation of an ancient Greek landscape. By turns smothering and grandiose, and often turgid, Mythodea is nevertheless studded with memorable themes, notably "Movement 9." It's a poignant, haunting melody, with the sopranos looping back and forth in ascending arcs, recalling Delibes's aria from "Lakmé," better known as the British Airways theme. This is the Vangelis of "L'Enfant," and "Heaven & Hell," where the composer's true voice is heard. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Mesmerizing, March 6, 2003

By	Jesse Gordon "Professional Thoughtsman" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having listened to Vangelis' music over the years, I've come (like many others) to expect a certain "sound" from his albums: something electronic, with lots of synths and effects - Albedo, Direct, etc. As such, when I first bought Mythodea, which was noted as being "operatic," I did not know what to expect. It could have been another Voices or Oceanic, which would have been a pleasant experience, but instead, Mythodea is something else altogether.

As a rule, I am not a fan of the opera. In fact, Mythodea is the only CD I own (out of perhaps 700 or so) that comes close to being "operatic." Vangelis has broken the rule for me, perhaps because I'm already a fan of his music...or perhaps because he has simply pulled this off so well.

This is truly vintage Vangelis, a pinnacle of the composer's career that has found him taking a more subtle role behind the music. It's undoubtedly Vangelis, but with the addition of the orchestra, the choir (as well as the sopranos, Battle & Norman, whose voices are quite haunting), Mythodea achieves something that previous albums have been hinting at for quite a while. I haven't felt the urge to weep since "So Long Ago, So Clear;" Mythodea sent shivers up my spine at every turn. The commercial hook of the album labels it as "Music for the NASA Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey," but I rather believe this is an exploration of humanity itself, and its undying desire to explore.

Whether or not this was intended by Vangelis to be his definitive opus, only he will know. However, I'm quite positive that Mythodea has become my most cherished piece of music to date.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Voyage!, February 17, 2002

By	Eric McCalla "reviewboy" (Denver, COLORADO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Vangelis' Mythodea: Music for the Nasa Mission/2001 Mars Odyssey is indeed a classical music odyssey in its vision, sound and presentation.[...]. I have several Vangelis albums collected over many years, and this one is vintage Vangelis without sounding dated.

I was especially interested in Mythodea since it features BOTH Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman, working together again after many years. Their individual soprano styles (Battle, the lighter and more ethereal soubrette/lirico; Norman, the dramatic, and more resonant as in her interpretations of Wagner and Strauss) serve the music beautifully as their voices contrast greatly with each other, but blend so well.

The 10 movements might represent the progression of Man's desire to reach past Earth and out into our solar system and even beyond. The symphonic elements are played with great passion and also great solemnity. The National Opera of Greece choir shines impressively in the acoustic of the Megaron/Athens Music Hall. Much credit to the engineering behind this project to highlight the great talents of not only Vangelis, Norman and Battle, but also of the choir and the London Metropolitan Orchestra.

Close your eyes and enjoy a magical journey to Mars and beyond.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly different, but incredibly good, November 7, 2001

By	David S. Burgess (Oswego, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The attempt to compare an artist's new project to previous ones is understandable and natural. But in order for one to be fair, one must rate only the quality of the work as it is presented. Is this new effort typical of Vangelis? No, not by a long shot. Is it bad because it is not like his previous works? Again, no, for it stands out as a truly unique form. An artist doesn't grow if he/she stays with only one form. Experimentation is a good thing, and Mythodea works successfully because of that. While I agree with those who had said it is not one if his best works, I don't agree with those who dismissed it solely on the fact that it is not like his previous electronic efforts. Therefore, I rate this highly as an orchestral work, not an electronic one. Being a fan of both orchestral and electronic music, Vangelis has historically satified my desire for both, and Mythodea more than satisfies.