Macca and Elton John create British music mashup to close Olympics 2012

Posted on 22 April 2012
By Bert Bernstein
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The London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony will celebrate the best of British music in a music mashup by super-producer David Arnold.

The spectacular event will be called A Symphony Of British Music and will feature songs ranging from classical composer Edward Elgar to pop star Adele.

But organisers refused to confirm any individual acts who will appear in the Olympic Stadium during the show on August 12.

Stars who have been tipped to be involved include Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John – and anyone who does appear will only receive a nominal fee of £1 for performing.

Artistic director Kim Gavin, who masterminded Take That’s successful comeback shows, promised an extravaganza involving ‘our most globally successful musicians’ as well as rising stars.

Gavin, who also directed the Princess Diana memorial concert in 2007, said the ceremony will be “the biggest after-show party – the show being the sport.”

He added: “We want to create a fabulous emotional experience in the stadium that night, something that people will remember for years to come.

“We want to celebrate where we are and who we are – and one of our strongest exports is music. We want to showcase British creativity and imagination.

“It will be an elegant mash-up of British music.”

Stephen Daldry, creative director of all London 2012 ceremonies, said: “It is, in a sense, a soundtrack to our lives. The music will resonate way beyond these shores.

“And it will be a celebration of the Olympics, from the athletes to the volunteers.”

David Arnold, who has written music for five James Bond films, is the ceremony’s musical director and hopes to cover a vast range of British musical history.

He said: “We go from – without saying we’ve booked anyone – Elgar to Adele in terms of the journey that we take and the distance.

“We want to celebrate everything that is fabulous about British music since it began.”

In total, 4,100 performers will star in the ceremony – including 3,500 adult volunteers and 380 schoolchildren from the six host boroughs.

The 10,500 athletes who have competed in the Games will also be in attendance while an expected worldwide television audience of around 750m people will tune in.

Danny Boyle, artistic director of the opening ceremony, last month revealed that the £27million spectacular has been named The Isles of Wonder.

The theme was inspired by lines from Shakespeare’s The Tempest and will also feature in the closing ceremony.

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