The Rock in association with the APO and Serj Tankian presents:
“The Elect the Dead Symphony”
Come Monday, March 16, 2009, the Auckland Town Hall will witness a very special collaboration between Auckland's most
loved orchestra and one of the most unconventional frontmen in rock, System Of A Down singer Serj Tankian.
Playing songs from his debut album as a solo artist, Elect The Dead, as well as “a few unreleased extras”, Tankian will be joining with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra to reinterpret Elect The Dead, an album that is both multifaceted and multilayered. Its tracklisting contains elements of psychedelia, classical, and
the trademark surrealist images and skewed time signatures that Tankian has made his own, all of which will be scored by
Tankian himself and arranged for full orchestra by respected New Zealand composer John Psathas. Psathas previously
worked with Little Bushman in preparation for their critically acclaimed 2008 concert with the APO, and is honoured to
be working with Tankian for the March show.
"I'm elated to have the opportunity to arrange my songs from Elect the Dead for a full orchestra with the APO,” says Tankian. “The arrangements will be quite different than those on the record
including bonus tracks never played live, and John Psathas will be helping me outfit my string arrangements for the full
orchestra. We'll also be taping the performance for a worldwide DVD release later in the year."
John Ure, the APO's Director of Operations, is equally as excited about the partnership, saying: “I was introduced to
the music of System of a Down several years ago and became a fan after hearing the first song. Next thing I knew I was
speaking with Boh Runga about a dream of mine of the APO performing Serj’s music on stage and as it turned out, she knew
him and was able to pass on this idea. It seems that dreams do come true! The excitement and anticipation is almost
unbearable!”
WHAT: Serj Tankian playing songs from Elect The Dead with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and special guests
WHERE: Auckland Town Hall
WHEN: 8:00pm, Monday, March 16, 2009
ON SALE: Wednesday, December 17, 2008. Visit www.buytickets.co.nz or call 0800 BUYTICKETS
ENDS