The same day Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 429 Records announced that “The Symphonic Nirvana,” a classical take on Nirvana’s grungy rock music, will be released September 2nd.
Jaz Coleman, who is composing this work, has found success with similar albums, including “Symphonic Music of the Rolling Stones,” “Us and Them: Symphonic Pink Floyd” and “Kashmir: Symphonic Led Zeppelin.” Those works made it to No. 1 on Billboard’s Classic Crossover Chart.
This project is important to Coleman because of the impact “Killing Joke” had on Nirvana, which was performed by Dave Grohl in its 2003 release.
“I am currently completing an epic symphonic arrangement of Nirvana’s music which is soon to be recorded with the Moscow State Orchestra to mark the life and death of Kurt Cobain,” Coleman said in a press release. “After receiving a Christmas card from Kurt in 1990 and recording with Dave Grohl in 2003, scoring the work can be likened to a musical dialogue with a familiar disincarnate spirit. It is not a religious work per se–the music of Nirvana is superimposed over concepts such as the multiverse and quantum immortality. It is a great honor to have this opportunity and considering all the synchronicity and coincidences, I feel born for this one.”
Recording will take place at Mosfilm Studios in Russia, with the music performed by the Russian State Symphony Cinema Orchestra. Part of “Lithium” was debut at the Dubai World Cup, performed by a 100 piece orchestra Jaz conducted.
Following the album’s release, the premiere performance will take place at Royal Albert Hall in London on October 17, with tickets going on sale April 25.
So far, the following tracks will be included on the album, though Coleman is confident there will be more:
- Smells Like Teen Spirit
- Lithium
- Heart Shaped Box
- Dumb
- Come As You Are
- Scentless Apprentice
For more information on this and other upcoming 429 Records albums, visit www.429records.com
