Sting: Symphonicities

"Even a seemingly straightforward and potentially middle-of-the-road album of orchestral music presents challenges, said Rob Mathes, a composer and arranger who produced 'Symphonicities' with Sting. On the one hand, Mr. Mathes said, such a record could end up being nothing but ballads, 'where it’s all lush and warm, beautifully voiced chords. …' Or, he said, the music could be overwritten, 'being as much about the arranger’s record collection as it is about Sting’s songs.' Mr. Mathes said that 'Symphonicities' tried to avoid those sand traps by including unexpected songs — the Police’s angular punk rock 'Next to You'; Sting’s 'We Work the Black Seam,' about a British coal miners’ strike — and dressing up familiar numbers like 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' in new clothes. (For that song, Mr. Mathes said, 'I decided to write it as if Gustavo Dudamel was going to conduct it with the L.A. Phil.') " (Dave Itzkoff, "From the Police to the Met: A Renaissance Man," New York Times, 7/12/10).

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