Released in relation to the Athens Olympics in 2004, Harmony is purportedly a classical album, but in reality is a fair bit less coherent. Classical music is the core, with a few instrumental pieces as well as operatic works here and there. Along with this, though, are a fair number of new age and adult contemporary-style works. The majority of the pieces are relatively popular crossover hits from the last decade, and the artists involved nearly all hold some name value. The collection itself is certainly well performed -- these are artists of an extremely high caliber after all. The mix of styles is likely intended to represent the cross-culturalism of the Olympics, but the tone is very overly Western European and relatively modern. The real treats are those pieces and performers with less (though still some) name value in the West. Natacha Atlas provides some exquisite vocals on a track with Nigel Kennedy and Kroke, and Vanessa-Mae leaves a very nice contemporary classical piece related to the reunification of Hong Kong with mainland China. A nice album, though one would be better served by a basic "opera's greatest hits" album, or similar items on the market. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Harmony: The Official Athens 2004 Olympic Games Classical Album
07/27/2004
All Music Guide Review
Track Listing
Credits
- Mike Reed
- Conductor
- Bruce Lynch
- Arranger, Musical Direction
- Suzanne Lynch
- Group Member
- Mike Moran
- Arranger, Producer, Conductor, Drums
- Brett Morgan
- Drums
- Peter Morgan
- Group Member
- Mick Mullins
- Vocals (Background)
- Keith Murrell
- Vocals (Background)
- Vangelis
- Arranger, Producer
- Tullio Serafin
- Conductor
- Miriam Stockley
- Vocals
- Peter Weihe
- Guitar
- Gavyn Wright
- Leader
- André Rieu
- Arranger
- Tony Taverner
- Engineer
- Dave Arch
- Conductor
- Trevor Barry
- Guitar, Guitar (Bass)
- Frank Peterson
- Producer
- Glen Marchese
- Engineer
- Paul Bailey
- Mastering
- Joel Numa
- Engineer
- Helmut Lotti
- Arranger
- Declan Colgan
- A&R
- Alfredo Oliva
- Concert Master
- David Hartley
- Piano
- Roy Emerson
- Producer
- John Fraser
- Producer
- Grace Row
- Producer
- Peter Lockett
- Percussion
- Robert Prizeman
- Arranger, Producer, Director
- Vasko Vassilev
- Leader, Producer
- Gert Jan Vermeulen
- Producer
- Jonathan Allen
- Mixing
- Walter Legge
- Producer
- Simon Gibson
- Digital Remastering
- Michael Soltau
- Keyboards
- Jake Jackson
- Assistant
- Ernö Olah
- Leader
- Andy Green
- Engineer
- Richard Lancaster
- Assistant
- Jeremy Caulton
- Executive Producer
- Sîan Edwards
- Conductor
- Abbey Road Ensemble
- Ensemble
- Pete Murray
- Keyboards
- Helen Connolly
- Executive Producer, Associate Producer
- Simon Kiln
- Mastering
- Jerzy Bawol
- Accordion, Arranger, Vocals
- Christopher Robson
- Soloist
- Tomasz Kukurba
- Flute, Arranger, Percussion, Vocals, Viola
- Pamela Nicholson
- Producer, Executive Producer
- Dariusz Grela
- Engineer
- Mike Brewer
- Musical Director
- Sam Okell
- Engineer
- Kroke
- Flute, Viola, Percussion, Vocals
- Tomasz Lato
- Arranger, Double Bass
- Wojciech Gruszka
- Engineer
- Paul Beniston
- Trumpet
- James Nelson
- Vocals
- Nigel Kennedy
- Violin, Violin (Electric), Arranger
- Cassell Webb
- Production Assistant
- Craig Leon
- Arranger, Producer
- John Cacavas
- Arranger
- Natacha Atlas
- Vocals
- Ronan Browne
- Pipe, Uillean Pipes, Tin Whistle
- Peter Cobbin
- Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Mitch Dalton
- Guitar (Acoustic)
- Nick Griffiths
- Engineer
- Andy Hill
- Producer
- Pete Howarth
- Vocals (Background)
- Karl Jenkins
- Conductor, Producer
- Eric Jordan
- Engineer
- Paul Keogh
- Guitar (Acoustic)
- Gary Langan
- Mixing
- Dick Lewzey
- Engineer
- London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Orchestra










