DISCOVERY CHANNEL & VOLKSWAGEN TO DEBUT WORLD PREMIERE OF “THEODORA,” AN ORIGINAL SYMPHONIC WORK FOR SHARK WEEK BY ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINATED COMPOSER J. RALPH
Featuring Grammy® Winning Violinist Joshua Bell & The London Symphony Orchestra, “Theodora,” Explores How Music Can be Used to
Change People’s Perception of Sharks
(Silver Spring, MD) — Discovery Channel and Volkswagen of America, Inc. are partnering with Oscar® nominated composer J. Ralph to debut the world premiere of “Theodora,” a soaring 151 piece symphonic work commissioned by Discovery Channel especially for SHARK WEEK and to be released by Sony Classical and Rumor Mill Records in early July, 2015. The collaboration explores sharks, providing insights into how they are a vital part of the ocean’s ecosystem.
Scores from major motion pictures have often represented sharks as one-dimensional lurking in the ocean through music that grows louder and faster to signal danger. The “Sharks Rescored” microsite (SharksRescored.com) will go live July 5 and allow audiences to listen to and watch the full six and half minute performance of “Theodora,” a wholly new perspective that celebrates the majesty, awe and importance of sharks. Featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Voices Choir and internationally acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell, the performance was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London and produced by J. Ralph with Arthur Pingrey.
J. Ralph is an Academy Award® nominated composer, producer and social activist from New York City who focuses on creating awareness and change through music and film. He has written and produced the music for more Oscar® winning/nominated documentaries than any other composer in the history of the Academy Awards®.
“I am honored to collaborate with Discovery and Volkswagen to raise money and awareness for species extinction, oceanic preservation, and especially sharks,” said J. Ralph. “In a time when most music is made on a laptop, I am incredibly grateful that
these two visionaries would go to such great lengths in assembling an orchestra of this magnitude and commission an original live work on this scale.”
SHARK WEEK, television's longest running and most anticipated summer event returns to Discovery Channel on Sunday, July 5 with the most hours of shark programming in its 28-year history. During SHARK WEEK, viewers will have the opportunity to watch “Sharks Rescored” an authentic, original, documentary produced by Discovery featuring J. Ralph and his original track “Theodora.” A short version of the documentary can be viewed on-air during SHARK WEEK beginning July 5th and audiences can watch an extended cut of the documentary at SharksRescored.com to learn more about the creation of “Theodora”.
Fans of SHARK WEEK also are invited to the SharksRescored.com page for an innovative interactive experience where, through the use of eye-tracking technology, they can see how music influences their perception of sharks.
At SharksRescored.com fans can also learn more about what Volkswagen is doing to help shark conservation efforts and their donation to the conservation, protection and education of sharks.