{{short description|2009 live album by Epica}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox album | name = The Classical Conspiracy | type = live | artist = Epica | cover = The Classical Conspiracy.jpg | alt = | released = 8 May 2009 | recorded = 14 June 2008 | venue = Miskolc Opera Festival, Miskolc, Hungary | studio = | genre = Symphonic metal, neoclassical metal | length = 143:56 | label = Nuclear Blast | producer = Epica, Sascha Paeth | prev_title = The Divine Conspiracy | prev_year = 2007 | next_title = Design Your Universe | next_year = 2009 }} {{Album ratings | rev1 =AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-classical-conspiracy-r1556510/review | title = Epica The Classical Conspiracy review | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | last = Henderson | first = Alex | work = AllMusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation}}</ref> | rev2 =About.com | rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://heavymetal.about.com/od/e/fr/epica-classicalconspiracy.htm | title = Epica – 'The Classical Conspiracy' review | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | last = Bowar | first = Chad | publisher = About.com | archive-date = 3 April 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130403121342/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/e/fr/epica-classicalconspiracy.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> | rev3 =Live-Metal.net | rev3Score = {{Rating|9|10}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.live-metal.net/cdreviews_epica_theclassicalconspiracy.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090724154918/http://www.live-metal.net/cdreviews_epica_theclassicalconspiracy.html| url-status = usurped| archive-date = 24 July 2009| title = Epica 'The Classical Conspiracy' review | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | last = Maki | first = Jeff | publisher = Live-Metal.net}}</ref> | rev4 =Lords Of Metal | rev4Score = {{Rating|9.5|10}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=13875&lang=en | title = Epica - The Classical Conspiracy review | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | last = Smit | first = Bas | publisher = Lords Of metal.nl}}</ref> | rev5 =Metal Asylum | rev5Score = {{Rating|7.5|10}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.metalasylum.net/reviews/2009/mr0938.php | title = Epica The Classical Conspiracy: Live In Miskolc Hungary review | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | last = Gromen | first = Mark | publisher = Metal Asylum.net}}</ref> |rev6 = ''Rock Sound'' |rev6score = {{rating|6|10}}<ref name="moorhouse">Moorhouse, Giles (June 2009). "Epica – ''The Classical Conspiracy''." ''Rock Sound'' (123): 83. {{ISSN|1465-0185}}.</ref> | noprose = yes }}
'''''The Classical Conspiracy''''' is the second live album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. The recorded live show took part in Miskolc, Hungary on 14 June 2008 in the framework of the Miskolc Opera Festival, where the Swedish symphonic metal band Therion had done a similar show a year before. Epica performed on stage with a 40-piece orchestra and a 30-piece choir, entirely composed of Hungarian musicians conducted by Zsolt Regos. The expanded ensemble played classical music, excerpts from operas and movie soundtracks, as well as Epica's songs. The album was released on 8 May 2009 through Nuclear Blast Records.<ref>{{cite web | title = Epica To Release 'The Classical Conspiracy' Double Live Album | work = Blabbermouth.net | publisher = Roadrunner Records | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116011 | date = 12 March 2009 | accessdate = 14 March 2009 | url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090406023813/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116011 | archivedate = 6 April 2009 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
This is the first album featuring Ariën van Weesenbeek as the new official drummer of Epica and also the last album with founding member and lead guitarist Ad Sluijter, who had already left the band when the album was released.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=110949 | title = Epica Guitarist Ad Sluijter Quits | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | date = 16 December 2008 | work = Blabbermouth.net | publisher = Roadrunner Records | url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090216014938/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=110949 | archivedate = 16 February 2009 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
== Track listing == {{tracklist | headline = CD 1 - Classical set | title1 = Palladium | writer1 = Yves Huts | length1 = 3:46 | title2 = Dies Irae | note2 = from "Requiem" | writer2 = Giuseppe Verdi | length2 = 2:15 | title3 = Ombra mai fu | note3 = from "Xerxes" | writer3 = George Frideric Handel | length3 = 3:06 | title4 = Adagio | note4 = from "New World Symphony" | writer4 = Antonín Dvořák | length4 = 9:02 | title5 = Spiderman Medley | writer5 = Danny Elfman | length5 = 4:16 | title6 = Presto | note6 = from "The Four Seasons" | writer6 = Antonio Vivaldi | length6 = 3:06 | title7 = Montagues & Capulets | note7 = from "Romeo and Juliet" | writer7 = Sergei Prokofiev | length7 = 2:11 | title8 = The Imperial March | note8 = from "The Empire Strikes Back" | writer8 = John Williams | length8 = 3:25 | title9 = Stabat Mater Dolorosa | note9 = from "Stabat Mater" | writer9 = Giovanni Battista Pergolesi | length9 = 4:31 | title10 = Unholy Trinity | writer10 = Huts | length10 = 3:11 | title11 = In the Hall of the Mountain King | note11 = from ''Peer Gynt'' | writer11 = Edvard Grieg | length11 = 3:11 | title12 = Pirates of the Caribbean | note12 = European release only | writer12 = Hans Zimmer, Klaus Badelt | length12 = 6:44 | title13 = Indigo | note13 = Prologue | writer13 = Mark Jansen, Coen Janssen | length13 = 2:04 | title14 = The Last Crusade | note14 = A New Age Dawns, Part I | writer14 = Jansen, Huts, Ad Sluijter | length14 = 4:18 | title15 = Sensorium | writer15 = Jansen, Sluijter, Janssen, Simone Simons | length15 = 5:06 | title16 = Quietus | note16 = Silent Reverie | writer16 = Epica | length16 = 4:22 | title17 = Chasing the Dragon | writer17 = Jansen, Huts, Janssen, Simons | length17 = 8:03 | title18 = Feint | writer18 = Jansen, Sluijter, Janssen, Simons | length18 = 4:34 }} {{tracklist | headline = CD 2 - Epica set | title1 = Never Enough | writer1 = Huts | length1 = 5:37 | title2 = Beyond Belief | writer2 = Jansen, Sluijter, Simons | length2 = 5:28 | title3 = Cry for the Moon | note3 = The Embrace that Smothers, Part IV | writer3 = Jansen, Sluijter, Simons | length3 = 7:44 | title4 = Safeguard to Paradise | writer4 = Huts, Jansen, Janssen | length4 = 3:59 | title5 = Blank Infinity | writer5 = Jansen, Janssen, Simons | length5 = 4:45 | title6 = Living a Lie | note6 = The Embrace that Smothers, Part VIII - Simone Version | writer6 = Jansen, Huts, Sluijter, Simons | length6 = 5:24 | title7 = The Phantom Agony | writer7 = Jansen, Huts, Sluijter | length7 = 10:30 | title8 = Sancta Terra | writer8 = Jansen, Sluijter, Simons | length8 = 5:11 | title9 = Illusive Consensus | writer9 = Jansen, Sluijter, Janssen, Simons | length9 = 5:45 | title10 = Consign to Oblivion | note10 = A New Age Dawns, Part III | writer10 = Jansen, Sluijter | length10 = 12:06 }}
==Personnel== '''Epica''' *Simone Simons – lead vocals *Mark Jansen – lead & rhythm guitar, grunts, screams, band arrangements on tracks 2, 6 *Ad Sluijter – lead & rhythm guitar, editing *Yves Huts – bass, band arrangements on tracks 5, 7, 8, 11, 12 *Coen Janssen – synthesizer, piano, orchestral and choir arrangements, band arrangements on tracks 2, 4, 7 *Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums
'''Additional musicians''' *Amanda Somerville – choir vocals *Agnes Liptak – choir vocals
'''Choir of Miskolc National Theatre''' * Boglarka Jambrik, Edina Kecskemeti, Eszter Maria Papp, Eva Orth, Eva Vajda, Ildiko Simon, Zsuzsa Adamy, Zsuzsa Kurucz, Agnes Liptak, Anette Cseh, Angelika Hircsu, Diana Kuttor, Linda Dolhai, Maria Takacs, Mariann Majlath, Oksana Pascsenko, Andras Marton, Erik Molnar, Gergely Boncser, Gergely Irlanda, Laszlo Bodor, Nandor Nandor, Tibor Osvath, Akos Baksy, Balazs Kolozsi, David Dani, Ivan Nagy, Robert Molnar, Sandor Demeter
'''Extended Reményi Ede Chamber Orchestra''' {{div col start}} * Beata Lukacs – violin * Benjamin Almassy – violin * Boglarka Balog – violin * Doris Tatai – violin * Eva Siklosi – violin * Maria Lazanyi – violin * Monika Zsekov – violin * Zoltán Ficsor – violin * Zoltan Kerenyi – violin * Zsofia Nagy – violin * Tamas Kriston – violin * Janos Feher – viola * Jozsef Kautzky – viola * Sandor Szabo – viola * Tamás Tóth – viola * Angelika Béres – celli * Annamaria Bodi – celli * Kamilla Matakovics – celli * Arpad Balog – double bass * Gizella Keresztfalvi – double bass * Sandor Czimer – clarinet * Tamas Fogarasi – clarinet * Csaba Szilagyi – trombone * Istvan Molnar – trombone * Zoltan Kakuk – trombone * Gyorgy Aranyosi – trumpet * Peter Gál – trumpet * Beata Tatar – oboe * Janos Implom – oboe * János Dobos – tuba * Tamas Domotor – timpani * István Halász – bassoon * Krisztián Járdány – bassoon * Eniko Frencz – French horn * Ferenc Tornyai – French horn * Gergely Opauszky – French horn * Sándor Horváth – French horn * Marianna Moori – flute * Tamas Siklosi – flute * Mark Virágh – percussion * Andras Bujtas – keyboards {{div col end}}
'''Production''' {{div col start}} *Oliver Palotai – orchestral arrangements *Sascha Paeth – mixing, mastering *Zsolt Regos – choirmaster *Tamias Kriston – concertmaster *Hídvégi Dániel – live sound engineering *Gresiczki Tamás – live sound engineering *Olaf Reitmeier – editing *Miro – editing *Ad Sluijter – editing *Simon Oberender – editing, mixing, mastering *Stefan Heilemann – art direction, design *Levente Kovács – photography *Maria Schvab – photography *Patrakov Alexey – photography *Oleg Patrakov – photography *Rita Miklán – photography *Janos Adam – photography *László Mocsári – photography *Jan-Willem Stekelenburg - Epica FOH {{div col end}}
== Charts == {| class="wikitable" !align="left"|Chart !align="left"|Peak<br />position<br> |- |align="left"|Dutch Album Charts<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Epica&titel=The+Classical+Conspiracy+%2D+Live+In+Miskolc%2C+Hungary&cat=a | title = Epica - Epica - The Classical Conspiracy - Live in Miskolc, Hungary (album) | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | work = Dutch Charts.nl | publisher = Media Control Charts | language = Dutch}}</ref> |align="center"|23 |- |align="left"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/1ad26/Epica-The-Classical-Conspiracy-Live-In-Miskolc,-Hungary | title = Epica - The Classical Conspiracy - Live in Miskolc, Hungary (album) | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | work = Ultratop.be | publisher = Media Control Charts | language = Dutch}}</ref> |align="center"|82 |- |align="left"|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/1ad26/Epica-The-Classical-Conspiracy-Live-In-Miskolc,-Hungary | title = Epica - The Classical Conspiracy - Live in Miskolc, Hungary (album) | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | work = Ultratop.be | publisher = Media Control Charts | language = French}}</ref> |align="center"|58 |- |align="left"|Switzerland Album Charts<ref>{{cite web | url = http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Epica&titel=The+Classical+Conspiracy+%2D+Live+In+Miskolc%2C+Hungary&cat=a | title = Epica - The Classical Conspiracy - Live in Miskolc, Hungary | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | work = Hitparade.ch | publisher = Media Control Charts | language = German}}</ref> |align="center"|81 |- |align="left"|France Album Charts<ref>{{cite web | url = http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Epica&titel=The+Classical+Conspiracy+%2D+Live+In+Miskolc%2C+Hungary&cat=a | title = Epica - The Classical Conspiracy - Live in Miskolc, Hungary (album) | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | work = Lescharts.com | publisher = Media Control Charts | language = French}}</ref> |align="center"|23 |- |align="left"|German Album Charts<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Epica&title=The+Classical+Conspiracy+%2D+Live+In+Miskolc%2C+Hungary&cat=a&country=de| archive-url = https://archive.today/20140707095652/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Epica&title=The+Classical+Conspiracy+-+Live+In+Miskolc,+Hungary&cat=a&country=de| url-status = dead| archive-date = 7 July 2014| title = Epica - The Classical Conspiracy - Live in Miskolc, Hungary | accessdate = 22 August 2011 | work = Charts.de | publisher = Media Control Charts | language = German}}</ref> |align="center"|87 |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Epica}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Classical Conspiracy, The}} Category:Epica (band) albums Category:2009 live albums Category:Nuclear Blast live albums