The Journey
Created on the centenary year of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s epic Trans-Antarctic Expedition, the Shackleton Collector’s Edition Box Set combines an original symphony recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with the renowned imagery of the expedition's photographer Frank Hurley.
When his ship, the Endurance, was crushed by the ice of the Antarctic, Shackleton and his men were forced to abandon their hopes of traversing the continent. While his men endured upon the ice floes, Shackleton fearlessly took on the freezing South Atlantic Ocean in a small open topped boat to raise the cry for help.
This new work marks 100 years since all hands were saved by his noble act.
The Symphony
Shackleton’s spirit and the fierce adversity overcome on the Endurance expedition is evoked in a powerful new symphony penned by composer Paul Frith, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s AIR Studios.
The symphony, which spans four 10” vinyl records encased in hand-stitched sleeves and bound in a gramophone book, captures the remarkable journey with vivid soundscapes that examine the battle between explorer and environment.
"Like Shackleton, this symphony can be fearless and even bombastic at times, but there are also moments of reverence and the simple wonder of discovery..."
The Design
A two-part 10” photobook – featuring never before seen archival images – has been artfully composed to follow the chronology of Frith’s original symphony. The result is a rich tapestry of image and sound, providing new insight into a voyage with few rivals.
The Shackleton Collector’s Edition Box Set houses these contents within a Venesta case inspired by the original expedition cargo boxes that were packed aboard the Endurance. The first two hundred and fifty editions of the publication will also include a replica glass plate similar to the ones Frank Hurley used on the expedition.
"The centenary year of Ernest Shackleton’s greatest expedition has produced many tributes; Paul Frith’s Shackleton Symphony is as unique as it is impressive. A sublime rendering of the immortal story"
The Hon. Alexandra Shackleton
