Customer Reviews

The Emotion and the Strength

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Highly skilled composer one of the "Old Guard" film scoring Giants...belongs to a very exclusive club of longivity...creating some of the most brilliant scores ever to grace filmland...Mauice Jarre can write music for any story-line...from any country in the world...one who fits the bill of legendary icon in his most worthy profession...FILM COMPOSER EXTRAORDINAIRE!

Not being one so taken with LIVE RECORDINGS, but this 2-CD-Set has much merit, quality and enjoyment, all music composed and yes, conducted by MAURICE JARRE, with very capable musical organizations~ BBC Concert Orchestra,Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, how's that for a Grand Slam line up...but let's see what musical scores make the grade of "stand outs" and the ever popular "highlights".

Starting with the stand outs ~ "A PASSAGE TO INDIA"(1984), string section opens with counterpoints from percussion, giving you a sense of traveling through India, brass takes over with a main theme, gives the ten minute Suite body---"FATAL ATTRACTION" (1987), solo piano sends chills through your memories of the story line, almost textures of "Classical Jazz", blending eerie strings with muted brass joining in for substance,reminds me of some of 1940's murder mysteries with Bogart or Mitchum---"RYAN'S DAUGHTER"(1970), haunting theme with melodic overtones, give way to the percussion section, moving within the unforgettable melody always stumping the music fans, where have I heard this before?

What you've all been waiting for...the HIGHLIGHTS ~ "LAWRENCE OF ARABIA"(1962), exceptional score for this stunning film, won an Oscar for "Best Original Score 1962", percussion and brass draws you into the desert, living each passage from an unforgettable arrangement that sits high on the composers list on his achievements---but the one everyone remembers for orchestration, originality and lasting impression of "Classic Soundtracks" is "DR, ZHIVAGO"(1965), sweeping Russian melodies with poignant blends of the windwood sections, listen as the counterpoints abound reeking with passion as the love of two women for one man, the Main Theme is probably one of the most recognizable in the world.

Milan Records has given us an additonal score "SUNSHINE"(1999), a beautiful haunting score that has Jarre's signature in place, the chorus gives off a heavenly sound of "Pure Harmony", counter balanced by the orchestration, gotta love it!

Total Compilation: 2-CD-Set(LIVE) ~ Milan Records 73138-35980-2 ~ (2002)

I am sure that anyone reading this review will agree with me on the fact that m. Jarre's status as a composer is beyond legend. What a pure genius. HOWEVER, I simply have to write this review to warn his fans what a huge disappointment this album is. Frist,the quality of the recording is tinny and insipid [I am not some picky audiophile, but live albums usually leave a lot to be desired]. Most important is that the arrangements and their performance by this orchestra is just totally unsatisfying. Lets face it, what we all love about Jarre is the power of his music in relationship to the films for which it was done. We want the evocative quality of the real scores, pretty much as they were for the films. You wont find it in this album[close your eyes and think of your favorite film score. You can hear it in your mind easily. now imagine hearing an album where the arrangement of it that you hear bears little relationship to what you lovingly remember. Thats the reason for my profound dissatisfaction]... So just buy the 'real' soundtracks and enjoy!