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Mason Bates

Philharmonia Fantastique w/Chicago Symphony

Sony Classical
Release Date: April 22, 2022

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1 Birth of Sprite  
2 Finale & Rebirth of Sprite  
3 Primordial Orchestra  
4 Rivalry & Death of Sprite  
5 The Brass  
6 The Percussion  
7 The Strings  
8 The Woodwinds  
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Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra is a 25-minute concerto for orchestra & animated film that flies through the instruments of the orchestra to explore the age-old connection of creativity and technology. Philharmonia Fantastique is a collaboration between composer and DJ Mason Bates, Oscar-winning director and sound designer Gary Rydstrom, and animator Jim Capobianco. Guided by a magical Sprite, we see violin strings vibrate, brass valves slice air, and drum heads resonate.  Imaginatively blending traditional and modern animation styles, it is a kinetic and cutting edge guide to the orchestra.  By the film’s end, the orchestra overcomes its differences to demonstrate “unity from diversity” in a spectacular finale. 

Premiered in the 2021-2022 season, the work was commissioned by Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and the American Youth Symphony. The work received support from the Sakurako Foundation, the John & Marcia Goldman Foundation, and the Paul S. Sekhri Family Foundation.

  • Mason Bates reaches new heights at the San Francisco Symphony / SFCV
    Posted At: June 9, 2022 12:00 AM
    SFCV's David Bratman writes….The fourth woman to conduct a San Francisco Symphony subscription concert at Davies Hall in the last month was Ruth Reinhardt, who turns 34 this year and is from Germany. She led a representative “Salonen-era” program featuring local premieres of two new works, one by a woman composer from Finland new to SFS and one by an American well known to the orchestra, plus a lesser-known...
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  • Sony Classical releases 'Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra by Mason Bates with CSO / BroadwayWorld
    Posted At: May 13, 2022 12:00 AM
    The project was co-commissioned by six of America's top orchestras.BroadwayWorld's Marissa Tomeo writes….Sony Classical Releases 'Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra by Mason Bates with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra' Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra, the most ambitious project to date from Grammy Award-winning composer, DJ, and curator MASON BATES, positions the moder...
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