Planet Earth Live
Encyclopedia
Planet Earth Live is a 2010 BBC
nature
documentary film
that celebrated its premier in the U.S. with a tour featuring narration and live orchestral accompaniment featuring the score by composer George Fenton
, who serves as conductor. Each show runs 90 minutes plus an intermission, featuring the highlights from the television series Planet Earth
in a full high definition
screening with live orchestra and narration. The tour features some of the leading classical orchestras providing accompaniment in prominent music venues in several large cities. The tour which was originally scheduled to visit Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago
and Los Angeles
, has added performances in Philadelphia and the Baltimore
-Washington, D.C.
area. In 2011, the documentary played in the United Kingdom.
London-based soprano
Haley Glennie-Smith has a regular role in the concert and has traveled to perform with the show at its various venues. While the video screen projects imagery of Earth, Glennie-Smith performs vocal accompaniment with symphonic backup. While performing she attempts to use her voice to mimic the duduk
, a double-reed woodwind instrument
popular in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Composer George Fenton provided the score the The Blue Planet
documentary series in 2001. From that show, Fenton created The Blue Planet Live! that toured in the U.K. and worldwide. Fenton was also the musical composer for Planet Earth, which was a joint BBC and Discovery Channel
co-production, that first aired in 2007.
The tour's original schedule included its world premiere at Dallas' Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
on June 25 and June 26, 2010 with accompaniment by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
. Other venues and orchestras confirmed on the original schedule were Atlanta's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
on July 16 with accompaniment by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
, Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival
in Millennium Park
on July 21 with accompaniment by the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra
at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion
and two dates at the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl
on July 23 and July 24 with accompaniment by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
. After the original schedule was announced, a July 29 show was added for the season finale Philadelphia Orchestra
performance at Mann Center for the Performing Arts
. Additionally, a July 8 show was added at the Strathmore
in , with accompaniment by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
. All venues required ticket purchases except the Exelon
-sponsored Pritzker Pavilion performance in Chicago, which was free as part of the Grant Park Music Festival series.
On 18 November 2011 George Fenton conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra
for the UK premiere of Planet Earth Live at the Barbican Centre
. Large parts of the production crew of Planet Earth, including Sir David Attenborough
were in the audience.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
nature
Nature documentary
A natural history film or wildlife film is a documentary film about animals, plants, or other non-human living creatures, usually concentrating on film taken in their natural habitat...
documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
that celebrated its premier in the U.S. with a tour featuring narration and live orchestral accompaniment featuring the score by composer George Fenton
George Fenton
George Fenton is a British composer best known for his work writing film scores and music for television, although he also writes music for the theatre. His real name is George Howe but he is better known by his pseudonym of George Fenton.-Selected film and television credits:Fenton has composed...
, who serves as conductor. Each show runs 90 minutes plus an intermission, featuring the highlights from the television series Planet Earth
Planet Earth (TV series)
Planet Earth is a 2006 television series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit. Five years in the making, it was the most expensive nature documentary series ever commissioned by the BBC, and also the first to be filmed in high definition...
in a full high definition
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
screening with live orchestra and narration. The tour features some of the leading classical orchestras providing accompaniment in prominent music venues in several large cities. The tour which was originally scheduled to visit Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, has added performances in Philadelphia and the Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
-Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area. In 2011, the documentary played in the United Kingdom.
Details
The film includes highlights from the Planet Earth television show that was produced over four years as the result of efforts that extended over 2,000 days in the field using 71 film crews in 204 locations and 62 countries. The film features footage of deep sea oceanography, deserts landscapes, arctic tundra, rare animal life and other natural wonders.London-based soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
Haley Glennie-Smith has a regular role in the concert and has traveled to perform with the show at its various venues. While the video screen projects imagery of Earth, Glennie-Smith performs vocal accompaniment with symphonic backup. While performing she attempts to use her voice to mimic the duduk
Duduk
The duduk , traditionally known since antiquity as a Ծիրանափող is a traditional woodwind instrument indigenous to Armenia. Variations of it are popular in the Middle East and Central Asia...
, a double-reed woodwind instrument
Woodwind instrument
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...
popular in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Composer George Fenton provided the score the The Blue Planet
The Blue Planet
The Blue Planet is a BBC nature documentary series narrated by David Attenborough, first transmitted in the UK from 12 September 2001.Described as "the first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world's oceans", each of the eight 50-minute episodes examines a different aspect of...
documentary series in 2001. From that show, Fenton created The Blue Planet Live! that toured in the U.K. and worldwide. Fenton was also the musical composer for Planet Earth, which was a joint BBC and Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
co-production, that first aired in 2007.
Schedule
| Date | Performers | Venue |
| June 25–26, 2010 | Dallas Symphony Orchestra Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States.... |
Meyerson Symphony Center Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center is a concert hall located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas . Ranked one of the world's greatest orchestra halls, it was designed by architect I.M. Pei and acoustician Russell Johnson's Artec Consultants, Inc... |
| July 8, 2010 | Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Baltimore Symphony Orchestra The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board... |
Strathmore Strathmore (Maryland) Strathmore is a cultural and artistic venue and institution in North Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Strathmore was founded in 1981 and consists of two venues: the Mansion and the Music Center.... |
| July 16, 2010 | Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Robert Spano has been its music director since 2001... |
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park The Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park is an amphitheatre located in the northern Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. The amphitheatre is meant to hold a variety of entertainment... |
| July 21, 2010 | Grant Park Symphony Orchestra Grant Park Symphony Orchestra The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra or simply the Grant Park Orchestra is a publicly sponsored symphony orchestra that provides free performances in the Grant Park Music Festival during the summer months in Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. Its sister organization is the Grant Park Chorus; the... |
Pritzker Pavilion Jay Pritzker Pavilion Jay Pritzker Pavilion, also known as Pritzker Pavilion or Pritzker Music Pavilion, is a bandshell in Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located on the south side of Randolph Street and east of the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan... |
| July 23–24, 2010 | Los Angeles Philharmonic Los Angeles Philharmonic The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September... |
Hollywood Bowl Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances... |
| July 29, 2010 | Philadelphia Orchestra Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900... |
Mann Center Mann Center for the Performing Arts The Mann Center for The Performing Arts is a 14,000 seat summer musical venue located in Philadelphia's West Fairmount Park. The venue operates as both an indoor performance hall and an outdoor music venue... |
The tour's original schedule included its world premiere at Dallas' Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center is a concert hall located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas . Ranked one of the world's greatest orchestra halls, it was designed by architect I.M. Pei and acoustician Russell Johnson's Artec Consultants, Inc...
on June 25 and June 26, 2010 with accompaniment by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States....
. Other venues and orchestras confirmed on the original schedule were Atlanta's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
The Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park is an amphitheatre located in the northern Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. The amphitheatre is meant to hold a variety of entertainment...
on July 16 with accompaniment by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Robert Spano has been its music director since 2001...
, Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival
Grant Park Music Festival
Grant Park Music Festival is an annual ten-week classical music concert series held in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It features the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and Grant Park Chorus along with featured guest performers and conductors. The Festival has earned non-profit organization status...
in Millennium Park
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois, USA and originally intended to celebrate the millennium. It is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously...
on July 21 with accompaniment by the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra
Grant Park Symphony Orchestra
The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra or simply the Grant Park Orchestra is a publicly sponsored symphony orchestra that provides free performances in the Grant Park Music Festival during the summer months in Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. Its sister organization is the Grant Park Chorus; the...
at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, also known as Pritzker Pavilion or Pritzker Music Pavilion, is a bandshell in Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located on the south side of Randolph Street and east of the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan...
and two dates at the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
on July 23 and July 24 with accompaniment by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
. After the original schedule was announced, a July 29 show was added for the season finale Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
performance at Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Mann Center for the Performing Arts
The Mann Center for The Performing Arts is a 14,000 seat summer musical venue located in Philadelphia's West Fairmount Park. The venue operates as both an indoor performance hall and an outdoor music venue...
. Additionally, a July 8 show was added at the Strathmore
Strathmore (Maryland)
Strathmore is a cultural and artistic venue and institution in North Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Strathmore was founded in 1981 and consists of two venues: the Mansion and the Music Center....
in , with accompaniment by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board...
. All venues required ticket purchases except the Exelon
Exelon
Exelon Corporation is an electricity generating and distributing company headquartered in the Chase Tower in the Chicago Loop area of Chicago. It was created in October, 2000 by the merger of PECO Energy Company and Unicom, of Philadelphia and Chicago respectively. Unicom owned Commonwealth Edison...
-sponsored Pritzker Pavilion performance in Chicago, which was free as part of the Grant Park Music Festival series.
On 18 November 2011 George Fenton conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
for the UK premiere of Planet Earth Live at the Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
. Large parts of the production crew of Planet Earth, including Sir David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
were in the audience.
External links
- Planet Earth Live at BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra website
- Baltimore Symphony Orchestra website
- Chicago Grant Park Music Festival website
- Dallas Symphony website
- Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl website
- Philadelphia Orchestra Mann Center website