The music performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics will be released digitally right after each ceremony concludes, Music Week reports.
The two records, Isles of Wonder: Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games and A Symphony of British Music: Music for the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games will be available on July 28th and August 12th, respectively. The Isles of Wonder will also see a physical release on August 6th. The albums will be released by Decca Records (which is owned by Universal Music) with the support of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
"We have worked closely with LOCOG to make these releases possible," said Universal Music Catalogue general manager Richard Hinkley. "Unusually, the secrecy surrounding the two ceremonies means that this will be the first time we have ever announced an album, let alone two, without a tracklisting."
Added Decca Records president Dickon Stainer, "The speed of these historic releases will be truly record-breaking."
The opening ceremony album takes its title from the "Isles of Wonder" speech in Shakespeare's The Tempest, which Olympic director Danny Boyle cited as the inspiration behind the kick-off event.
The London opening ceremony is expected to feature more than 10,000 performers with original music from the British music duo Underworld – who were named music directors of this year's games – plus choirs, orchestras and a specially commissioned 23-ton bell. Paul McCartney will play some songs to close out the show.
It was also announced today that the Spice Girls will play two songs – including their 1996 hit "Wannabe" – at the closing ceremony. They join a line-up that already includes the Who, George Michael and Jessie J.
