An eagle-eyed reader points out that ‘Barbie” opens with a parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey — complete with Zarathustra, Atmosphères, and the Kyrie. Attached is a screenshot of the IMDb page for the music credits.
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Yes, I noticed it. A great parody of 2001 at the beginning. Thanks to Stanley Kubrick who was able to incorporate a wide range of classical music in many of his movies including Bartok and Penderecki in The Shining and Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss and Ligeti in 2001 A Space Odyssey
And the use of the Shostakovich „Jazz Suite“ … and more Ligeti … in „Eyes Wide Shut“!
I’m glad Ligeti got credit where credit was due!!
I noticed last night that at the top of the end credits for the Sunday night TV Prom the BBC National Orchestra of Wales was rechristened the BC National Orchestra of Wales. Part of the cutbacks?!
Oh my. Parodies of the opening of 2001, or just the fanfare from ‘Zarathustra’, have all over the place for a half century. It’s a staple of advertising.
… and I’m pretty sure the Zarathustra excerpt is the VPO Karajan recording as used in 2001 allegedly because Kubrick preferred it. Orchestra and conductor are not named in the credits.
Kubrick gave Karajan (and DGG) prominent credit for Bartok’s ‘Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste’ in “The Shining”.
Not separately credited because it was recorded by the orchestra as part of the soundtrack sessions at the always busy Abbey Rd studio.
It is “creation of Barbie”.
https://www.watertower-music.com/release/barbie-score-from-the-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/
And I’m 100% sure it isn’t. The Barbie version was recorded in May at Abbey Road by an orchestra of London session musicians conducted by Matt Dunkley.
Why would anyone “thumbs down” this fact?
It is worth visiting the Kubrick archives just to examine his extensive music collection. Recall seeing him at Dame Gwyneth Jones’ Wigmore Hall recital in 1997 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=IwMHZAmW3rs).
There’s a great story that Dame Gwyneth was at Kubrick’s for dinner one night, he asked her to sing some notes at full volume as he wanted primordial sounds for the 2001 soundtrack (never used). Neighbours called the police concerned for the woman next door! Dame Gwyneth – got to love her!
Bob, if a licence was purchased for the Karajan recording then it too would be listed in the credits. This was recorded at Abbey Rd studio by session musicians conducted produced by Mat Dunkley/ Mark Ronson/ Andrew Wyatt.
Alex Ross had spotted this already: https://www.therestisnoise.com/2023/07/ligeti-meets-barbie.html
Note that all musical selections are listed as “Songs”.
No. Amanda Ameer, aka the publicist who tells the NY Times classical music department what opinions they should have and what artists they should promote, spotted it and passed it on to the New Yorker classical music critic Alex Ross. And they didn’t make the connection with Kubrick’s film.
Thank you for the clarification and not surprising about the Times, unfortunately.
As a film geek, I have to say that „Barbie“ doesn’t just parody „2001: A Space Odyssey“, it is also serves as an homage.
The opening sequence matches Kubrick’s masterwork virtually shot-by-shot. I found myself the only person laughing out loud in the sold-out Kino when I recognised the very first frame of the film, the shot of the landscape.
As one who sits through credits, I also noticed that „Also sprach Zarathustra“ credits only Richard Strauss (no performers), which is exactly how it appears in the credits for „2001“.
And yes: I wore a pick Izod shirt from the 1980s, and I liked „Barbie“ a hell of a lot more than „Oppenheimer“!
I’m betting that for 99% of the audiences for the Barbie film these allusions would have gone totally over their heads. And kept going!! Kudos to the film-maker, though.
Larry, I was the only person laughing too. Absolutely a loving homage
Someone who loves classical music told me there is a little bit more after the famous opening of 2001 but I’ve never heard it.
Is it any good?
It’s astounding that “2001”, a movie totally lost on the attention-span deficient, is still a cultural monolith.
I presume the Ligeti is still under copyright so credit and payment of royalties would be a must.
With a reported $145 Million budget… I’m sure “Barbie” could afford it.
Now who is confusing eagle-eyed with bat-eared
It reminds me Berlioz “Fantastique” in the opening credit of Shining
Old news – catch up, or listen more closely.
I saw Ligeti mentioned in the credits, but can anybody tell me WHERE exactly his Kyrie is used in the film?