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Anthony Minghella's Oscar-winning realization of Michael Ondaatje's intricate romance deservedly earned comparisons to David Lean's sweeping screen epics derived from strong literary sources. Like Lean, Minghella sought an equally thoughtful, yet ravishing musical counterpart that fleshes out a sympathetic orchestral score with allusions to the story's cultural milieu. The equation begins with Gabriel Yared's tender, brooding symphonic score, which mingles the film's poles of fate and passion with subtlety and restraint, then adds the exotic, mesmerizing voice of Marta Sebestyen (best known for her work with Muzsikas, the brilliant Hungarian folk revivalists, who also appear here), whose presence provides a literate clue to the title character's true identity. The film's '40s time-frame gains resonance and dramatic irony by pop songs from that era, including Benny Goodman swing classics and two versions of Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek" (by Fred Astaire and Ella Fitzgerald, respectively). Add a pivotal Bach cue and this is a film package that works even if you don't know the film--and that much more powerfully if you do. --Sam Sutherland
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was initially captivated by the music by of course watching the film which is as equally beautiful. The music is a combination of 30's jazz, Hungarian folk music which incidently sounds very arabic, Bach and of course the haunting symphonic score of Gabriel Yared. The album sums up all the emotions in the film, love, passion, hope, tradgedy, happiness and despair. Utterly compelling and in all honesty some of the most beautiful pieces of classical music i have ever heard. Regardless of whether you have seen the film or not, this is a must have.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Gabriel Yared has composed some timeless compositions and this in my opinion is his most creative to date.
Not one track is below par out of the 20+ on this CD its an instrumentally tribulant work that is so eminant of the African Locations in the film, it really captured the 1940s and i loved the nostalgic 'Cheek to Cheek' thrown in By Yared to enhance his own Music.
This CD really reminded me of Peter Gabriels 'Last temptation Of Christ' the music ranges from the haunting woodwind tradgedies to Bulgarian folklore and what I liked best was that i didnt find myself skipping tracks because some irritated me, from start to finish it moved and inspired me, and you cant say that for many Artists.
I have appreciated this soundtrack more and more as i have listened to it, on first listening to this i was mildly disappointed as i had another of Yareds work (City Of Angels)and my expectations were that the music would be the same, then i watched the film and the next time i listened to it, the music became much like a picture book improving both the soundtrack and the film. Gabriel Yared is so much more unappreciated than say 'James Horner' (titanic, braveheart ) i consider Yared much more diverse than horner as all Yareds work from 'Betty BLue', city of angels, 'the lover' etc are so different and indistinguishable to Yared, making him in my opinion one of the great pioneers of the classical music for film genre.
Not one track is below par out of the 20+ on this CD its an instrumentally tribulant work that is so eminant of the African Locations in the film, it really captured the 1940s and i loved the nostalgic 'Cheek to Cheek' thrown in By Yared to enhance his own Music.
This CD really reminded me of Peter Gabriels 'Last temptation Of Christ' the music ranges from the haunting woodwind tradgedies to Bulgarian folklore and what I liked best was that i didnt find myself skipping tracks because some irritated me, from start to finish it moved and inspired me, and you cant say that for many Artists.
I have appreciated this soundtrack more and more as i have listened to it, on first listening to this i was mildly disappointed as i had another of Yareds work (City Of Angels)and my expectations were that the music would be the same, then i watched the film and the next time i listened to it, the music became much like a picture book improving both the soundtrack and the film. Gabriel Yared is so much more unappreciated than say 'James Horner' (titanic, braveheart ) i consider Yared much more diverse than horner as all Yareds work from 'Betty BLue', city of angels, 'the lover' etc are so different and indistinguishable to Yared, making him in my opinion one of the great pioneers of the classical music for film genre.
I would highly recommend this to any romantic, or soul searcher looking for divine inspiration by way of music.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having loved the book and been disappionted by the film, i was intreiged by the different styles of music I heard throughout the film. The soundtrack is sensitive and melodious, charting the different lives, stories and cultures that the main characters lead. The tracks are a collection from different countries, from a Hungarian ballad to Ella Fiztgerald and Fred Astaires very different recordings of "Cheek to cheek". It is a lovely album, very relaxing and every track is different, each superb in its own way. However the classical melody composed by Gabriel Yared is slightly repetative as it occurs frequently during the album. A work of art in it's own right, which seems to capture the spirit of the book better than the film does. Buy it if you like your music well thought out and meaningfull.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I really like it
Well, First of all only buy this if you loves the songs on the English Patient. Not everybody will like the songs on this CD, only people with special taste. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. N. Bakhorji
Peace at last...
I have had this on my 'wish list' for a very long time. Since the day it arrived, it has sent me into a peaceful sleep with evocative memories of the exotic side of the film. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Susan Spain
Gabriel Yared made it!
Gabriel Yared made it! The film intense story and passionate love made it to the soundtrack. This said it is hard to describe more.
Published 7 months ago by Joăo Costa
OK, but no class winner!
Loved the movie, enjoyed the music, so bought the CD! Good but ever so slightly forgettable.
Published 23 months ago by Philip Connolly
De-Ja Vu
Yes, this ost of the 1996 movie repeats itself quite alot, but who really cares......there are 28 songs on this beautiful album and it runs for over an hour; a little repetition is... Read more
Published on 10 July 2009 by Billy Ray Cyrus
Evocative soundtrack
This is my favorite soundtrack album. I like the almost heartbreaking tracks such as 'Rupert Bear' and 'As far as Florence'; the exotic sound of others that conjurs up the desert... Read more
Published on 18 April 2008 by Chris Rawlings
Excellent!
Some people have critisised the OST for being too repetitive- on the contrary i think the repitition and the length of the listening experience helps to trace the narrative arc of... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2007 by darwin's finch
Deja Vu?
Yes, yes... good music, great score, fab movie, blah blah.
Has anyone else noticed the shameful amount of repetition in this score? Read more
Has anyone else noticed the shameful amount of repetition in this score? Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2006 by Little Miss Know-it-all
Haunting
If you loved the film then this will only enhance that pleasure. It is impossible to not relive the film in your memory when you listen to this CD. Read more
Published on 27 April 2005 by Cath
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