Mythodea: Nasa 2001 Mission

 

 

Create your own review

With the release of "Heaven and Hell" in 1976 I became an instant fan of Vangelis. The incredible power, sweep, vision and praeternatural, almost godly talent for melody on this near-symphony, played entirely by it's composer, absolutely blew my young mind. There has always been the element of the symphonic in Vangelis' music, as if he were born to evolve into a symphonic composer of real power and skill. With "Mythodea" it is gloriously apparent that, finally, Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou has achieved his artistic apotheosis. This symphony is so grand, so Olympian in scale and effect and so heart-rendingly musical that one can't help but nominate Greece's greatest musical son as a truly great composer for the ages.

Starting with eerie electronics, performed by Vangelis, the mystery and alien evocation of space quietly and ominously acts as a prelude to the great series of movements that follow. "Movement 1" comes in as classic Vangelis, a titanic bolero, an opening theme that portrays both the power of the myths he 'remembers' and the far-reaching ambition of the human species as it reaches for the most Earth-like planet in the solar system, Mars. It's grand bolero is also a respectful nod to Gustav Holst's "Mars" from his "The Planets", itself a similarly themed program 'depicting' the major bodies of the solar system and their mythical characters. For that's what "Mythodea" is - a musically expressed marriage of the Socratically remembered essence of Classic Greek Myth and the contemporary scientific mission of Martian reconnaissance.

All the Vangelisian elements are there. From unmitigated power to a delicacy of the heart that is always deeply moving. From soaring strings to earth-shaking percussion, otherworldly choirs to solo voices of unspeakable tenderness. "Movement 2" thunders in with a gigantic rhythm pounded out on war-like drums as a gigantic choir chants. The Tenors and the Basses dominate and lend the masculine character of battle to the movement. The music continues on to shift between enormous portrayals of natural, mythological and technical power, vistas of awesome design and sensitively-wrought passages of choral beauty so sublime one can scare believe it. On top of all this, putting this magnificent recording way over the top of anything else he has done, Vangelis here has enlisted the incredible talents of Sopranos Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle. Their shared melodic lines interweave and play with dizzying beauty in arcs, spirals and exquisite arabesques. Somehow Vangelis always succeeds in writing music for female soloists that reaches profoundly into the Feminine heart. He deeply intuits and knows the power of the feminine voice, writing for it with utmost skill and stunning effect. And if any composer understands fully the deeply moving force and beauty of a full choir, among just about anyone writing today, it is Vangelis. His remarkable talent for writing melodies that stir all the greatest attributes of the human soul makes one wonder just what inner beauties there are inside this great, magnificent bear of a man.

Nothing is static as the music weaves and soars its way from abysmal depths to unthinkable heights. Each of the 10 "Movements" stuns one with its complete achievement of musical perfection and resolution and yet also succeed as sections of the larger whole. Staggering moment after staggering moment, like the roiling waves of an ocean, this music achieves some incredible things. The end of "Movement 4" is probably the most gigantic and overwhelming crescendo I have ever heard. It builds and builds and builds and builds and continues to swell with breath-taking, heart-stopping power as instruments and voices are added to its leviathan swell. Over 30 seconds in length, in 'listening time' it seems eternal and literally stops your breath until it finally crashes to a finish only Vangelis can achieve.

"Movement 7" Features the solo voice of Norman as she sings with the full range of her enormous talent. It is pure Opera, often likened to Delibes and would make even the most die-hard Opera fanatic wring their hands in tears. Backed by the male choir, something Vangelis uses to a larger degree than a lot of composers and then joined by Battle toward the end with the full sweep of strings and sopranos, it is an act of an Opera in itself. The 8th movement returns us to the choirs and full orchestra for sweeps and crests that could easily come out of both Bel Canto and Wagner. For even though that's a hitherto unimagined and highly distateful suggestion, German and Italian Opera meeting and entwining together, this is exactly what Vangelis achieves, the union of the dark, grand power of the Wagnerian with the exquisite lyrical filigree of Bel Canto - and it works! He's been doing it his entire life.

The ninth movement, before the return to the main bolero theme, contains probably the most heart-rendingly moving vocal section of "Mythodea" as Norman and Battle duet in melodic lines as inspiringly constructed as "Miro Norma", for example. One only wishes that there was a libretto included in this package. Are they singing in Greek? It it a composite language? Is it entirely 'created'? It hardly matters, but for those who delight in song, it would be a great thing indeed to know not just what the Sopranos are singing but what the choirs are as well.

Listening to this major piece of work is as emotionally and musically satisfying as listening to Beethoven's "Choral Symphony, No. 9". It is of the same Olympian scale and ambition, in its sublimity and sheer majesty. If you are a fan of Vangelis' work then this is absolutely indispensible. If his soundtracks for "Alexander" and "1492: Conquest of Paradise" were favourites this is, again, a must. If you don't know this man's work, and you like things grand and deeply inspiring, then you might want to think about diving into this piece of absolute genius. Vangelis as pure composer here, enters the realm of the Great Masters.

Listen to this LOUD !!!

Turn off the lights, close your eyes and be prepared to experience a trip in space and time. The Master signs here what I consider one his best releases !

You can choose this one without any doubt, you won't regret. I own many Vangelis albums and this one is one of my favourites !

Mythodea: Music for the NASA Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey
~ Vangelis confirms that Vangelis is one of the best electronic composers of all time. His selction of sounds and his fortitude and diligence shine through in this amazing album. 5/5.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 51 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Mythodea! A Brilliant Work of Art!
If the Masters of Antiquity could hear this (especially Pythagoras!) they would think it was the Rapture of Olympus! Read more

Published on Mar 28 2004 by Chrysoula A. Holtzhauer

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretending to be the next Wagner
Vangelis is, without doubt, the best electronic new age composer ever appeared. But this doesn't neccesserily mean that he has the ability to compose like Wagner or Saint-Seans; I... Read more

Published on Feb 23 2004 by Yuksel Guney Hanedan

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow....what a masterpiece!
Yes, this CD is different from Vangelis' other works. With a full orchastra, a choir, and two top sapranos, Vangelis has expressed so much of his vision and emotion in this... Read more

Published on Oct 26 2003

2.0 out of 5 stars Mythodea
Absolutely superb album!!! I haven't stopped playing it for the last 3 days and I am quite fussy with what I like. Read more

Published on Aug 25 2003 by halrust

3.0 out of 5 stars don't bother
I have a lot of Vangelis's music. This one I got for birthday. The first movement is really good, but the rest of the movements have too many voices in them which drown out his... Read more

Published on Aug 19 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Mesmerizing
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... Read more

Published on Mar 6 2003 by Hoodie Wilson

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Operatic and not Typical of Vangelis
I enjoy Vangelis' music a lot. However, as a work of music this CD missed the mark for me. As others have pointed out, the full title of this work is "Mythodea: Music for the... Read more

Published on Jan 31 2003 by Lonnie E. Holder

4.0 out of 5 stars Takes time getting used to
Upon listening to this album the first time, the effect is quite shocking if you're used to Vangelis' more atmospheric treatment of music through the use of keyboards and voices... Read more

Published on Dec 21 2002 by Manny Hernandez

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Exactly Out-Of-This-World.
In this recording Vangeli teams with The London Metropolitan Orchestra and The National Opera of Greece Choir to create his vision of theme music for the 2001 NASA Mars Odyssey... Read more

Published on Nov 3 2002 by W. M. Robbins

3.0 out of 5 stars I'd like to give it more stars
I'm rating this from the viewpoint of those who loved Vangelis' other CDs such as "Chariots Of Fire", "Oceanic", etc. Read more

Published on Sep 16 2002 by Neal C. Reynolds

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 51 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!