ULI JON ROTH Confirmed As Special Guest At THERION's 'Classic Show' In Bucharest

Sweden's THERION has updated its official web site with the following message:

"Three weeks before the THERION goes classic show (December 9th, Palace Hall, Bucharest) we are proud to announce a huge surprise to the fans: Ex-SCORPIONS and ELECTRIC SKY member Uli Jon Roth, currently developing his own projects with the SKY ORCHESTRA, confirmed his participation as special guest artist in the international cast 'Ars Musicae, Ars Medicinae – Music Against Cancer' project.

"Acknowledged as neo-classical metal pioneer, author of astonishing and innovative 'Sky of Avalon' and 'Metamorphosis' albums, the legend guitarist and composer will give a lecture on the fusion between classical and rock music at Bucharest. The link between music and medicine will also be approached during this seminar, including discussions and answering questions from the audience by Uli Jon Roth and Christofer Johnsson. Classical and rock/metal musicians, music students, press and fans are invited. The seminar takes place on December 8th, at the Auditorium Hall / National Museum of Arts, Bucharest. More info available starting November 23 on www.concerte.fundatia-aquarius.ro.

"Uli Jon Roth needs no further introduction. World-famous since his huge success with the German band SCORPIONS in the '70s, with whom he recorded five albums (including 'Tokyo Tapes'; one million copies sold). A true legend, exceptionally gifted guitarist and multi-instrumentist, Uli writes his own compositions and arranges his own album, resurrecting classical music into nowadays. Uli has been increasingly recognized as a master of the art of composition and as an inventor of new musical forms and structures. From the beginning he was a visionary and innovator — and his journey of artistic expression and musical explorations has reached a new plateau with 'Metamorphosis Of Vivaldi's Four Seasons' in 2003. He is meantime film director, painter in realist style, writes poetry and philosophical treaties. He invented his own instrument, the unique six-octave Sky guitar.

"In acknowledgement to his remarkable artistic achievements, Uli was officially introduced in the Walk of Fame of the only Rock & Pop museum in Europe (Gronau, Germany) in September 2003.

"Uli Jon Roth feels that: '... nowadays classical music is usually being presented to the audience in a way which almost inevitably alienates the public by not making any serious efforts to tune into the spirit of the time and age we live in ... within the last decade the world of classical music has experienced cataclysmic and, in some respects, devastating changes. Among other things, this is reflected by ever-diminishing CD sales in this field which by now have shrunken to virtual insignificance, and the market for this kind of music has almost approached a point of total collapse when compared to that of twenty years ago. This in turn makes it a lot harder for all concerned to devote enough financial resources to projects, performances or recordings involving classical music, which means there seems little future. Music simply isn't the culturally important force any longer that it once was in the public's mind... Instead, Music has been sidelined and completely overtaken by computer games and other forms of entertainment?? It is a sad fact that our combined Western societies increasingly resemble a cultural wasteland. And this despite the fact that it has never been easier to have free access for the man in the street to what maybe the richest artistic heritage this world has ever produced? The point is, however, that art has ceased to play a pivotal role in society and has been eclipsed or replaced by glittering emptiness.' Uli Jon Roth feels strongly about these issues and feels he can provide at least some of the answers. He also believes that particularly his interaction with SKY ORCHESTRA is able to prove that there is a way — or there are ways forward."