Symphonicities | 
| Artist: Sting
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $5.33
as of 9/9/2010 06:23 CDT details
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New (53) Used (12) from $4.79
Seller: cdbaron
Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 116
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.8 x 0.1
UPC: 602527425375
EAN: 0602527425375
ASIN: B003LAH7MU
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Next To You | | • | Englishman In New York | | • | Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic | | • | I Hung My Head | | • | My Ain True Love | | • | Roxanne | | • | When We Dance | | • | End of the Game | | • | I Burn For You | | • | We Work the Black Seam | | • | She's Too Good For Me | | • | The Pirate's Bride |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Symphonicities; the companion CD to accompany Sting's highly-anticipated world tour, which begins June 2 in Vancouver, featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Steven Mercurio (Bocelli, Pavarotti). The new studio album, comprised of Sting's most celebrated songs re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, serves as the ultimate commemoration of the live concert experience. Created exclusively for the tour and correlating album, Sting's greatest hits have been reinterpreted with brand new orchestrations arranged by Jorge Calandrelli, David Hartley, Michel Legrand, Rob Mathes, Vince Mendoza, Steven Mercurio, Bill Ross, Robert Sadin, and Nicola Tescari. In addition to "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," highlights include fan-favorites culled from The Police songbook such as "Roxanne" and "Next To You," as well as songs from Sting's enduring solo career including "Englishman in New York," "I Burn for You," "Why Should I Cry for You," and "She's Too Good For Me," among others. Symphonicities is produced by Rob Mathes and Sting, mixed by Elliot Scheiner (Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac) and Claudius Mittendorfer (Interpol, Franz Ferdinand).Sting will also be joined by a quartet comprised of Dominic Miller (Sting's longtime guitarist), David Cossin (a multi-percussion specialist in new and experimental music and featured member of the Bang on a Can All-Stars), Jo Lawry (vocalist), and Ira Coleman (bassist).
Album Description
2010 release from the Pop renaissance man featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Steven Mercurio. On Symphonicities, Sting's greatest hits have been reinterpreted with brand new orchestrations arranged by Jorge Calandrelli, David Hartley, Michel Legrand, Rob Mathes, Vince Mendoza, Steven Mercurio, Bill Ross, Robert Sadin, and Nicola Tescari. Symphonicities was produced by Rob Mathes and Sting and mixed by Elliot Scheiner (Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac) and Claudius Mittendorfer (Interpol, Franz Ferdinand).
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 48
 Sting's latest faux classical venture July 13, 2010
T. Fisher
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
A symphony orchestra recording pop classics by Sting and the Police. Sounds like one of those records from the 1980s or 1990s, right? Like this one. Except this time it's the Bard of Newcastle himself doing the honors. Backed by chamber orchestras with about 45 players, Sting takes us through a collection of some of this greatest hits in orchestral format. He is backed on the various tracks by the New York Chamber Consort, the London Players, and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra -- as well as many members of his usual rock band.
This is a really enjoyable record. Some of the orchestral covers are surprisingly literal recreations of the original music. Even the Police's hard-rocking "Next to You", which kicks off the album (as it used to kick off many early Police concerts), follows the original's music very closely, transcribed into orchestral format. The result is, surprisingly, very successful. And "Englishman in New York" may be hard for the casual listener to distinguish from the original.
But there are some big changes here too. "Roxanne" is de-reggaefied, and goes into more of a love ballad feel. The songs are often slower than the originals -- several times while listening to it, I recalled an earlier quote by Stewart Copeland: "Sting thought everything was too fast."
"We Work the Black Seam" is the one track that doesn't have full orchestral accompaniment, instead relying on a brass section alone to carry the familiar synthesizer riff of the original track. "She's Too Good For Me", like "Next to You" is a rocker where the string section gets a workout.
A lesser-known Police track, "I Burn for You", has always been one of my favorites. It gets a nice dreamlike treatment here, with suitably funky but restrained percussion at the end -- the only problem being that the ending comes far too soon. On this track, and many others, the general approach has been to pay respect and make references to the originals, without being bound by them. The results are successful overall.
Note that the music is not purely orchestral -- there are still electric and acoustic guitars, bass, and drums on many tracks, though not all.
The MP3 version has "Whenever I Say Your Name" as a bonus track -- and most welcome, a digital booklet in PDF format. This looks basically like it must be the CD booklet in digital form, with changes to reflect the bonus track. The album, like Sting's other forays into classical and faux classical music, has been released on the Deutsche Grammophon label.
A very good album overall that deserves a listen. This one will be a regular on my stereo for a while. Highly recommended for Sting and Police fans.
Symphony of Reconstruction July 24, 2010
Flexible_Strategies (Redlands, CA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Sting's career has had more twists and turns than a mountain road in the Swiss Alps. I have always admired his knack for choosing the path less travelled. He never plays it safe. Breaking up The Police was proof of that. Reuniting them 20 years later was an even bigger shocker. His acting roles, Broadway, and the lute albums. His journey has certainly been interesting. This new CD of orchestral reinterpretations is another interesting bend in the road. Sure, many other artists have gone the orchestral route. With an artist like Scorpions it feels a bit forced. Sting's compositions lend themselves wonderfully to this treatment. The original songs range from playful to brooding and everything in between. The orchestra picks up these themes and enhances the music in a beautiful way. The songs are seen in a new light. Very enjoyable!
I like the music on this disc very much. July 15, 2010
Robert G Yokoyama (Mililani, Hawaii)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
Sting reworks some of his greatest hits with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra backing him. Some of these tracks I would consider classics. Some songs are not that well known, but I enjoy them anyway. My favorite track would be "Englishman In New York". This song celebrates individuality. I love the clarinet playing on this tune. I think the violin and harp playing on Roxanne gives this song a romantic dignified tone. "Next To You" is a tune with a great beat. All the musicians playing their instruments in unison gives this a energetic punch that I love. "When We Dance" is a beautiful somber love song. The piano playing on this song is simply lovely. Sting plays the harmonica on the track "I Hung My Head". He makes a song about feeling guilty sound beautiful. "Eveything She Does Is Magic" is another gem on here. The musicians in the orchestra play flawlessly together on this song. "We Work The Black Seam Together" is a very moving song about displaced coal miners. This is one of Sting's lesser known songs, but I think it is musically arranged well. The subtle horn playing on this track is superb. "End Of The Game" is another lesser known song about foxes running for dear life. I like the cellos playing on this song. "She's Too Good For Me" is a groovy three minute party of a song. Unfortunately, Sting does not sing all of my favorite Sting songs on this disc. I have to buy a concert ticket for his tour in the near future to hear the entire Sting/Police catalog. I love the music on this disc.
everything old is new again July 30, 2010
cameronism
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
to say that this is a tired re do i ask, have you ever seen an actor play the same role in different productions? or an opera star join many an opera company performing the same role time and again? it can be quite moving. likewise, hearing sting's raw vocals supported by lush full blown orchestrations is exciting and turns old favorites on their ear.
A well done compilation of Sting's best music. August 4, 2010
Robert Busko (North Carolina)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If there's anything more pathetic than a rocker who has advanced into middle or old age and still tries to harken back to their "rock on" days I don't know what it is. Sting is moving on to new fields and Symphonicities is proof of that. I think this CD is a progression of his earlier work. A reworking of music into a new form. It appears that some of his fans don't get that.
Artists, like the rest of us, must evolve. Sting either isn't capable or isn't interested in doing what he did when he was in the Police. I congratulate him on that. I enjoyed the Police, but I have always thought his most creative work came after those early days, but that's another debate.
Symphonicities is a re-examination of his work through a different lens. Not everyone will like it (just read some of the reviews here) and that's ok. The rest of us are enjoying the journey that Sting has undertaken. I'm not sure what is coming from Sting in the future, but whatever it is, it will be different than the late 70's and the 80's. Please spare us the aging rocker who doesn't recognize that the ship has sailed.
This CD doesn't omit the best works of his career. The songs are all here. I won't rehash what other reviewers say about the character if the individual offering. Suffice it to say I bought the CD and am enjoying is a lot.
If you enjoy Sting then I think you'll enjoy Symphonicities.
Peace always.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 48
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