The Illusionist [Soundtrack]

Philip Glass (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Philip Glass
• Audio CD (August 15, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B000H0MKI8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,807 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Unlike his popular score for 2002's The Hours, which was intimate and performed by a small ensemble, the music Philip Glass came up with for The Illusionist is quite opulent. Its old-world ambiance befits Neil Burger's movie, a suspenseful period piece set in 1900 Vienna, but the score, performed by the Czech Film Orchestra, easily stands on its own as well. Glass's trademark waxing and waning is present of course--the most Glass-esque tracks include "The Orange Tree" and "The Secret Plot" (in which delicate brushed drums drive the beat against a dull pounding echo). But most rewarding is finally hearing non-stereotypical actions/suspense cues: "The Accident," "A Shout from the Crowd," "The Search" or "The Chase" make you wish Hollywood thought outside the box more often, and called Glass instead of the usual go-to guys when in need of a composer for big-budget action flicks. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Product Description

Music From The Film The Illusionist features an original score by acclained modern minimalist composer Philip Glass. Glass’ renowned restrained, yet elegant style has captivated audiences around the world for years. "The soundtrack to The Illusionist is a driving force to the movie," comments director Neil Burger. "There are many scenes and sequences without dialogue and it falls to the music to tell the story." Glass recorded the original score with a large orchestra, which results in an emotionally driven and epic soundtrack.

Glass’ sophisticated music has been featured in numerous movies throughout his career, earning him many awards and critical praise.

Award winning writer/director/actor Edward Norton stars alongside Jessica Biel and Paul Giamatti in The Illusionist.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars philip glass has done it again-simply amazing!!!!, August 21, 2006

By 

Batur Guney (Ankara,Turkey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Illusionist (Audio CD)

I have just seen the wonderful new movie "The Illusionist" which was amazing in its own right. However I must say that the new score by Philip Glass enhances its impact considerably. For many, the genius composer has already produced his masterpiece with "The Hours" score. That is a wonderful work of art but I always felt his music suited better to period pieces, the only example of which up until now was his score for "The Secret Agent". Returning home I immediately played that album and I was sure of my opinion. Both his scores for The Secret Agent and The Illusionist have a grand baroque feeling in them, incredibly operatic and sensual as well. They sweep the listener effortlessly into a bygone area and almost tell the story of the film by themselves. One could watch both films without any dialogue and effects and can still feel satisfied with the end result. I take my hat off to the directors of the aforementioned films for their willingness to put aside all their egocentrical concerns and submit the outcomes of their months-spanning efforts to a man who obviously goes and tells the story of their films with music once again. Bravo Mr. Glass for this amazing new score!!!!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and very fitting., September 10, 2006

By 

Ian M. Berreitter (Santa Cruz, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Illusionist (Audio CD)

For those of you who frequently dislike Glass's work, don't be too quick to judge this one. For those who love his work, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. Glass has taken a healthily large step outside of his esteemed minimilism style and brought about a wonderful score that fits the movie perfectly. While maintaining his personal touch as a composer with his repeated arpeggios, complex rhythmic and metrical elements and brilliant use or orchestration, he manages to weave colorful melodies and dramatic builds that, after having seen the movie, I could not imagine any other composer providing as well adept or fitting a score. Quite possibly one his best works to date and I cannot stress enough how perfect it is for this movie.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'More' of Philip Glass, January 16, 2007

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Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Illusionist (Audio CD)

Some of our finest classical music composers have written brilliantly for the movies: Shostakovich, Britten, Prokofiev, Korngold, Stravinsky are but a few of the names that come to mind. Add, now, the name of Philip Glass to that gifted group - his score for the film THE ILLUSIONIST is not only a fine addition to the mood of this period film, it is also a step in orchestration growth for Glass.

While everyone praised his sense of clarity and minimalism in his score for THE HOURS, an approach that so keenly fit Cunningham's story, the movement into the 'romantic, lush' realm of the turn of the century musical climate that would have accompanied the story of 'The Illusionist' finds Glass scoring for a larger, somewhat more traditional orchestral palette. And as performed by the Czech Film Orchestra (the film was indeed created in Prague) it is a lush and elegant enhancement of the mood. Thankfully Glass' motif approach and minimalist thinking are not abandoned: anyone can readily recognize the musical signature of the composer in every bar of the score. The pleasure is that Glass measured his own ideas alongside the timeframe of the story, and as usual he got it just right.

This is one of those musical score soundtracks that stands well on its own and for those who are particularly fond of Philip Glass' music, this CD is one to own. Grady Harp, January 07