A hard rock band recording with a symphony orchestra is not a novel concept-- Deep Purple [ tickets ] broke the barrier in 1969 with "Concerto for Group and Orchestra," while Metallica concluded the past decade with "S&M." Now we can add Germany's premier headbangers Scorpions [ tickets ] with "Moment of Glory" (EMI Classics), recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic and due on Aug. 15.

Not to be outdone, Deep Purple earlier this year released its second orchestrated CD "Deep Purple in Concert with LSO" (Spitfire Records).

"Moment of Glory," a 12-track CD, contains eight Scorpions' hits including "Wind of Change" and "Hurricane 2000" (a.k.a. "Rock You Like a Hurricane"). Among the album's other cuts is the title track, which doubles as the official theme of EXPO 2000, the World's Fair that recently got underway in in Hanover, Germany.

The current lineup of Scorpions includes singer Klaus Meine and guitarists Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs. Guests on the album include vocalist Lyn Liechty, who sings a soaring duet with Meine on "Here in My Heart," as well as Ray Wilson (Genesis) and Zucchero.

On their 16-track, 2-CD album with the London Symphony Orchestra, Deep Purple consists of vocalist Ian Gillian, keyboardist Jon Lord (the mastermind behind 1969's "Concerto"), guitarist Steve Morse, drummer Ian Paice and bassist Roger Glover. Guests include vocalists Ronnie James Dio, Sam Brown, Miller Anderson and Pete Brown.

In addition to several classic Deep Purple songs, such as "Pictures of Home" and "Smoke on the Water," each member of the band performs songs from his solo career. The album--which was culled from two September 1999 benefit concerts--also includes three movements of "Concert for Group and Orchestra."

Scorpions will perform four or five select dates orchestras in the United States this fall; dates haven't been announced. Deep Purple has no tour dates planned at this time.