At least we know an orchestra is involved....not sure why this is such a big deal:
VSO refuses to mime for Olympics
Vanoc wanted other musicians to ‘perform’ VSO recording at ceremony
By Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun
December 18, 2009 1:59 PM
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra refused an invitation to record music for the Vancouver 2010 opening ceremonies because Vanoc wanted other musicians to “mime” the performance.
VSO conductor Bramwell Tovey was asked to conduct the recording session, but was told another conductor would perform his actions at the ceremonies.
“My participation at the opening ceremonies was dependent upon my agreeing that music I recorded would be mimed by another individual and I regarded that as fraudulent and withdrew,” Tovey told The Vancouver Sun.
The audience will at times hear more musicians playing than appear on stage, according to David Atkins, the executive producer of the opening and closing ceremonies.
VSO president and CEO Jeff Alexander said the VSO was asked to record a piece of music for the ceremonies, but was not asked to appear in the show.
Although Vanoc offered to credit Tovey and the VSO, Alexander said “it wouldn’t have made sense to allow the VSO name to be used.”
The VSO will perform at three events co-produced by Vanoc during the Games, said Alexander.
“We’re very happy about that,” he said.
Many VSO musicians will take part in the recording sessions for the opening ceremonies and a number of VSO players have been recruited to appear live with freelance musicians at the ceremonies.
“But it’s not the entire VSO and so we felt our name should not be attached to that,” he said.
Atkins explained the decision: “For international televised live spectacles of this size and scope, it is standard practice to pre-record the musical segments to ensure the integrity and security of the broadcast transmission.”
The artists and ensembles at the ceremonies will be performing live and all of them will participate in the recording sessions, but “some sections of the pre-recorded music will understandably feature a larger ensemble than appears on stage,” Atkins said in a statement given to The Sun.
Atkins would not reveal which, if any, of the VSO’s musicians will perform at the ceremonies or how they were selected.
In 2008, Beijing 2008 Olympic officials were embarrassed when it was revealed that an entrancing performance of Ode to the Motherland performed at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Games by nine-year-old Lin Miaoke was a fake. The girl who actually sang the song was removed by a top member of the Chinese Politburo at the last moment and replaced by a girl with a “cute” face.
Seven-year-old Yang Peiyi was considered unacceptable because of her crooked teeth. Lin Miaoke, who lip-synched to Lin’s voice, became a sensation, granting media interviews before the fraud was revealed.
Tovey was approached by Winnipeg-based orchestra contractor Sam Lutfiyya one month ago to conduct a recording session to create a tape that would be used at the opening ceremonies. Tovey initially agreed and then rethought his position, telling Lutfiyya that he would withdraw. Lutfiyya died earlier this week.
All performers are asked by Vanoc to sign a strict confidentiality agreement, which includes statements such as “Recipient agrees to the granting of injunctive relief in Vanoc’s favour without proof of actual damages” and a promise by the signatory to reimburse Vanoc for any court costs associated with litigation due to a breach of the agreement.
The practice of pre-recording music for large-scale productions is a common one. In 1999, Tovey and the Winnipeg Symphony and a 400-voice chorus pre-recorded music for the Pan American Games ceremonies. Tovey, the choir and the orchestra performed live along with the recording, which was made to ensure that any mishap affecting the live performance would not interrupt the show.
The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra will pre-record its performances for the closing ceremonies and play live along with the recording.
VYSO artistic director Roger Cole refused comment when contacted by The Sun: “I’ve signed an agreement. I can’t talk about that.”
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David Atkins' statement
December 18, 2009
Understandably, we can't confirm specific details on the Opening or Closing Ceremonies as they are confidential, including who is participating. But your question provides an interesting opportunity to provide some general information on our plans as it relates to the vocalists and music for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Both Games Ceremonies will present a broad spectrum of Canadian musical expression. For international televised live spectacles of this size and scope, it is standard practice to pre-record the musical segments to ensure the integrity and security of the Broadcast transmission. If there were to be technical difficulties, this procedure also ensures that the show continues without interruption. To accomplish this, individual artists and ensembles that are featured in the Ceremonies perform live during the event and also participate in recording sessions to produce pre-recorded segments that play simultaneously with their live performance. The individual artists and ensembles performing in the ceremonies are the artists whose performances have been pre-recorded.
Given the range and number of musicians involved and to achieve the maximum musical impact and effectiveness, some sections of the pre-recorded music will understandably feature a larger ensemble than appears on stage. Of course, all musicians who have participated in either the recording session or ceremony will be acknowledged in the ceremony program.
David Atkins
Executive Producer & Artistic Director
Opening, Closing and Victory Ceremonies
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
© Copyright © The Vancouver Sun
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