SERJ TANKIAN’S LATEST PROJECT: ‘ELECT THE DEAD SYMPHONY’

Tert.am
11:26 ~U 10.02.10

Armenian-American singer-songwriter Serj Tankian, best-known as
the lead vocalist of System of a Down, has teamed up with Cinema
Purgatoria to present a series of screenings across the U.S. of
Tankian’s Elect the Dead Symphony – a very special orchestral
interpretation of Tankian’s critically acclaimed solo debut Elect the
Dead. The dynamic one-off performance was recorded and filmed in HD
at the majestic Auckland Town Hall in New Zealand with the Auckland
Philharmonia Orchestra.

The dramatic result has been captured in the Elect the Dead Symphony –
a CD/DVD that will be released by Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on
March 9, 2010. Many of the shows have been suggested by fans and are
being organized in conjunction with the Armenian-American community,
including the Armenian National Committee of America.

This unique meshing of two very different musical worlds was a vision
Tankian has long wanted to make a reality. What sets Elect The Dead
Symphony apart from other successful pairings between rock artists
and orchestras is that Tankian specifically rearranged his songs to
be performed with only orchestral instruments.

"I was elated to have the opportunity to arrange my songs from Elect
the Dead for a full orchestra with the APO," Tankian says. "The
arrangements are quite different than those on the record, including
bonus tracks never played live."

Elect the Dead Symphony can be pre-ordered on iTunes.