The celebrated composer Vangelis is most known for his groundbreaking work on soundtracks for films such as Chariots of Fire or Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic Blade Runner.
His latest work is a new album entitled Rosetta,inspired by the European Space Agency’s mission to study Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
The project is a result of a video call made between ESA astronaut André Kuipers and Vangelis, during Kuipers' mission on board the International Space Station.
After their conversation, Vangelis was inspired to write an album dedicated to the first mission ever to land a probe on a comet.
Carl Walker from ESA says of the project:
“When we put the mission footage images together with the music, we thought it captured how people would feel if they were to see the comet for real in close-up. With music, you can enhance emotions and create memories:
I believe that what Vangelis wanted to do was share a lasting memory of our Rosetta mission through his music.”
Vangelis adds: “Mythology, science and space exploration are subjects that have fascinated me since my early childhood.
And they were always connected somehow with the music I write.”
Vangelis's new album Rosetta is released 23 September on Decca records. If sci-fi is your thing, read our guide to the best space movies of all time.