# Symphonica (George Michael album)

Professional ratings :
| Aggregate scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 60/100 |
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Daily Telegraph | |
| The Guardian | |
| PopMatters | (6/10) |
| Rolling Stone | |
Symphonica is a live album by English singer-songwriter George Michael and his only live album released during his lifetime. Released on 17 March 2014 through Aegean and Virgin EMI Records, Symphonica was Michael's first album of new recordings since Patience (2004). Michael's vocals were recorded at the Royal Albert Hall during his Symphonica Tour (2011–12), while the string arrangements were recorded in a studio.

## Background

The album contains mostly live versions of songs from his 2011–12 Symphonica Tour, including six of his own compositions (the rest being covers). The album was the final work by both American producer Phil Ramone, who died in March 2013, and by Michael himself, who died on Christmas Day (25 December) 2016. The lead single, a cover of the Terence Trent D'Arby song "Let Her Down Easy", debuted at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart in spite of little promotion. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and sold 49,989 in its first week. "Patience", a further song from the tour which does not appear on the final album track listing, was available as a free download for one week only from Amazon.com in the UK to coincide with the album release.

## Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.
* Laurence Anslow – assistant engineer
* David Austin – executive producer, mastering
* Tom Bailey – assistant engineer
* Chris Barrett – assistant engineer
* Mike Brown – guitar
* Ben Butler – guitar
* Chris Cameron – arranger, keyboards, musical direction
* Fiona Cruickshank – assistant engineer
* Danny Cummings – percussion
* Frank Filipetti – engineer
* David Finck – bass, double bass
* Olga Fitzroy – assistant engineer
* Niall Flynn – engineer, mastering, Pro Tools
* Geoff Foster – engineer
* Gordon Goodwin – arranger
* Laurence Greed – assistant engineer
* Gavin Greenaway – conductor
* Simon Halfon – design
* Andy Hamilton – EWI, keyboards, saxophone
* E.Y. "Yip" Harburg – composer
* Jay Henry – background vocals
* Carlos Hercules – drums
* Henry Hey – arranger, musical direction, piano
* James Jackman – programming
* Lincoln Jean-Marie – background vocals
* Lucy Jules – background vocals
* Graham Kearns – guitar
* Shirley Lewis – background vocals
* Mark McLean – drums
* Rob Mathes – arranger, conductor
* George Michael – design, lead vocals, producer
* Adam Miller – assistant engineer, Pro Tools
* Rob Mounsey – arranger
* Lea Mullen – percussion
* Phil Palmer – guitar
* Lori Perry – background vocals
* Sharon Perry – background vocals
* John Prestage – assistant engineer
* Phil Ramone – producer
* Steve Sidwell – conductor
* Luke Smith – keyboards
* Ray Staff – mastering
* Symphonica Air Orchestra – primary artist
* Symphonica US Orchestra – primary artist
* Caroline True – photography
* Steve Walters – bass
* Torrie Zito – arranger

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 10,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Platinum | 20,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 200,000 |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||