From the ethereal wonders at Mammoth Hot Springs to the grandeur of Tower Fall to its extraordinary wildlife, YELLOWSTONE SYMPHONY takes viewers on a spectacular visual journey through America's first national park. Set to classical music from some of the world’s best composers, the park’s magnificent scenery and wildlife are showcased as they change through the seasons. The stunning cinematography offers viewers a tourist-free look at the plentiful wildlife — elk, moose, grizzly bears, wolves and bison (recently named “America’s National Animal”) — and other inhabitants of Yellowstone National Park.
YELLOWSTONE SYMPHONY is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations. Tune in Sun, Aug. 21 at 11pm on the WSIU stations: WSIU 8.1, WUSI 16.1, WSEC 14.1, WQEC 27.1 and WMEC 22.2 or access the WSIU local broadcast livestream online at pbs.org or via the PBS Video app. Watch with WSIU Passport.
About the Show
Sometimes called “the Serengeti of the West,” Yellowstone became the world’s first national park, beginning America’s long love affair with these landmarks. Yellowstone’s thermal features and geyser basins — including the iconic “Old Faithful” and other marvels — are famed worldwide and attract visitors from every continent.
This lyrical film, without narration, skillfully blends imagery with the music of Smetana, Vivaldi, Schubert, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Debussy, Tchaikovsky and others. Time-lapse, underwater, slow motion and aerial photography are featured in this portrait of one of the world’s best-loved places. Shot in 4K and high-definition television, YELLOWSTONE SYMPHONY features a dynamic 5.1 Surround score.
Songs featured in the program include:
- “The Moldau” – Bedřich Smetana
- “The Four Seasons” – Antonio Vivaldi
- “Ride of the Valkyries” – Richard Wagner
- “Hebrides Overture” – Felix Mendelssohn
- “Rosamunde Overture” – Franz Schubert
- “Siegfried Idyll” – Richard Wagner
- “Für Elise” – Ludwig van Beethoven
- “Lacrimosa” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- “Lullaby” – Johannes Brahms
- “Lyric Pieces” – Edvard Grieg
- “Dance of the Mirlitons” – Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
- “Hall of the Mountain King” – Edvard Grieg
- “Canon in D Major” – Johann Pachelbel
- “Arabesque No. 1” – Claude Debussy
- “Two Melodies Op. 53” – Edvard Grieg
- “Dance of the Swans” – Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
- “Adagietto” – Gustav Mahler
- Symphony No. 9, “Largo” – Antonin Dvořák
- “March of the Nutcracker” – Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
YELLOWSTONE SYMPHONY is produced and directed by John Howe, an accomplished executive producer-director-writer-cinematographer with a long track record of having many of his films nationally distributed to PBS stations. Actors Robert Redford, Ali MacGraw, Joanne Woodward, Hal Holbrook, and Peter Coyote have narrated his films.
PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.
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