International award-winning composer, Amanda Lee Falkenberg has composed a dynamic new work that merges music and science. The seven-movement symphony dramatizes past, present and future moon explorations, and highlights discoveries that have been made in our search for other worlds that could possibly sustain life.
Through seven exhilarating movements, concertgoers will experience a stunning space adventure that focuses on the stories of these fascinating moons. But what uniquely defines this symphony is its planetary core message which culminates in the 7th movement, dedicated to Earth-Moon. This final movement offers a discovery of a different kind and provides a unique opportunity to view our planet united and whole, from the surface of the Moon, a breathtaking, life-changing experience referred to as THE OVERVIEW EFFECT. The impact of such a privileged sight has inspired a call to action from Astronauts and as a result, has propelled them to share this profound perspective shift with all of us here on Earth.
Through the persuasive and powerful forces of music, the symphony offers Earthlings a chance to contemplate who and where we are in the universe. In 42 minutes they will be taken on an emotional journey, marveling at the wonders of these moons, the beauty of our planet, and possibly even experience their own perspective shift as crew-mates aboard this spaceship we cruise, Earth. This is the story of THE MOONS SYMPHONY.
★★★★★ “This is a real one-off…it succeeds because [Falkenberg’s] a very experienced composer of film music, and the extraordinary quality of the performance” – Choir and Organ
“Marin Alsop secures excellent playing from the London Symphony Orchestra” – Gramophone
★★★★ “Falkenberg’s passionate and creative adaptation of the film music genre is firmly embraced by the committed artistry of the London Symphony under Marin Alsop and the warm cohesion and crystalline diction of the London Voices directed by Ben Parry…The Moons Symphony offers a precious and timely perspective on our own fragile planet that we would do well to heed” – Limelight
“This ambitious project is brought to life by a sizzling LSO and a gutsy London Voices…This is musical painting on an infectiously grand scale” – BBC Music Magazine
“This is a captivating work, an exciting and emotional journey in tonal language, in which the composer aspires to make her music serves as a reflection on who we are and where we are, so that we are aware of the beauty of our planet and the majesty of the moons of our solar system…Alsop is impeccable because of the naturalness with which she extracts all the melodic weight of this work, which lives with the stars” – Sonograma
★★★★½ “This is music designed to grab the listener’s attention. It also happens to be right up the alley of conductor Marin Alsop, leading the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices; she builds a solid structure and keeps it moving along effectively” – All Music