CU Symphony's 'Planets' to feature planetary video, astronaut Joe Tanner
A montage of animated images from NASA.
Live, multi-media symphonic performance at Macky Auditorium April 29
BOULDER, Colo. When the CU Symphony launches into a performance of Gustav Holsts Romantic suite, The Planets, on April 29, audiences will experience not just music, but also video featuring the latest high-resolution images taken by the Mars Curiosity rover, the Hubble space telescope and other unmanned NASA spacecraft.泭
To top it off, theyll have an experienced space traveler to guide them from Mercury to Neptune. Joseph Tanner, four-time space shuttle veteran and senior instructor in Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU-Boulder, will introduce each piece with the latest scientific information about each of the planets. 泭泭
泭I love the orchestra and Im looking forward to the performance, Tanner says.
When the symphony decided to perform The Planets last year, the possibility of collaboration was immediately apparent.泭
We like to reach out across disciplines and there was a natural connection with the scientists in CUs prestigious aerospace engineering program, says Gary Lewis, director of orchestral studies.泭
Videographer Mark Hatch premiered his film based on The Planets in 1996 to accompany the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra. Since then, it has been played more than 180 times with orchestras in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Hatch has refreshed and re-edited the program four times as new and better photos have become available since then.泭
The film, which features both photos and animated sequences, is anything but static. Rather, Hatch choreographs the projection, adding an astronomical dimension to Holsts journey.泭
What makes this film unique is that the conductor does not follow the film.泭Rather, we follow the conductor through various techniques executed on-the-fly, he says.泭
The video and Tanners lyrical introductions will add texture and depth to an audience favorite Lewis describes as a true tour de force.
Its monumental in scope, featuring a large orchestra plus chorus, he says. Its a wonderful way to end the year.
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Gustav Holsts The Planets
Performed by the CU Symphony
With video taken by NASA spacecraft ()
Narrated by former NASA astronaut Joe Tanner
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29
WHERE: Macky Auditorium, 做厙輦⑹ campus
TICKETS: $10 and up
INFO: or call 303-492-8008
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