TANKIAN’S ‘ELECT THE DEAD SYMPHONY’ IN A THEATER NEAR YOU
By Nanore Barsoumian
Armenian Weekly
February 8, 2010
BOSTON, Mass. (A.W.)-On March 16, 2009, Serj Tankian and New Zealand’s
70-piece Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra took the stage at the
Auckland Town Hall in New Zealand and delivered an exhilarating and
unique performance of Tankian’s latest solo album, "Elect the Dead."
Six cameras were set up to capture the performance in HD, and the
resulting product is the impressive "Elect the Dead Symphony" CD/DVD
set, due to be released on March 9, 2010. Tankian, Reprise Records,
and Cinema Purgatorio have been working together towards worldwide
movie screenings of "Elect the Dead Symphony" starting in February
(confirmed screening dates and locations are listed below). Many of
the show locations are being requested by fans and are being organized
together with the Armenian American community, including the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
The cover of Tankian’s "Elect the Dead Symphony" album "We are actively
accepting suggestions for venues around the world," announced Cinema
Purgatorio. "These can be movie theaters, rock clubs, barns, bars,
classrooms with video projectors, Armenian emigre cultural centers,
and other assorted locations around the world.
Suggest a screening, and we’ll see what we can do." To make a screening
suggestion, visit
Aside from the orchestral performance of the tracks on the album, the
"Elect the Dead Symphony" includes two bonus, never-before-heard songs,
"Gate 21" and "The Charade," interviews with Tankian and members of
the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as backstage footage.
What’s next for Tankian? It has been reported that his next album
project, "Music Without Borders," will most likely be released
this summer. "It’s a new genre of music in some ways," Tankian told
Billboard.com. "It’s electro orchestra jazz-rock. It’s basically a
full orchestra, full, heavy electronic beats, live instrumentation
and resampling… You name it, it’s there. It’s a huge wall of sound."
Meanwhile, Tankian has been collaborating with writer and lyricist
Steven Sater and Harvard University’s American Repertory Theatre’s
Diane Paulus, toward a musical adaptation of Aescchylus’ tragedy,
"Prometheus Bound."
Confirmed screening dates Note: These are movie screenings, not live
performances. As of now, Tankian is not personally scheduled to attend
any screening.
North America Portland, Ore.: Feb. 19 at The Hollywood Indianapolis,
Ind.: Feb. 19 at Republic Theatres Bloomington, Ind.: Feb. 19-20 at
The Ryder at the Fine Arts New Concord, Ohio: Feb. 19-21 at Muskingum
University Iowa City, Iowa: Feb. 19-21 at The Bijou Providence, R.I.:
Feb. 20 at The Cable Car Seattle, Wash.: Feb. 20 at Northwest Film
Forum San Antonio, Texas: Feb. 21 at Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes New
York, N.Y.: Feb. 21 at The Leonard Nimoy Theatre at Symphony Space
Brookline, Mass.: Feb. 22 at The Coolidge Corner Mount Pleasant,
S.C.: Feb. 25 at Cinebarre Salt Lake City, Utah: Feb. 26-27 at The
Tower New Haven, Conn.: Feb. 27 at Criterion Cinemas Syracuse, N.Y.:
March 4 at The Palace Theatre Tempe, Ariz.: March 4 at Madcap Theaters
Shreveport, La.: March 6 at Robinson Film Center Olympia, Wash.: March
6-11 at Olympia Film Society Chicago, Ill.: March 7 at Lincoln Hall
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
