Customer Reviews

The Man Who Cried

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Man Who Cried" is one of the best soundtracks of the last few years. It is a flawless, spellbinding compilation of classical opera (Bizet, Verdi, Puccini, Purcell), Roma (Gypsy) music (Taraf de Haidouks), and original score ("Cesar's Song," "Close Your Eyes," "Without a Word." The Kronos Quartet performs the original score).

Tenor Salvatore Licitra in particular was a gem, this being his debut recording. His voice is tragically gorgeous on "E Lucevan le stelle," heroic and lighthearted on "Di quella pira," haunting on "Je crois entendre encore" (especially on the Yiddish version) and "Close Your Eyes," an achingly tender Yiddish lullaby that Suzie/Fegele's (Christina Ricci) father sings to her as a child in Russia.

Christina Ricci's singing voice is provided by Czech chanteuse Iva Bittova, whose sultry jazz stylings on "Gloomy Sunday" and childlike innocence on "Dido's Lament" combine to form a musical portrait that matches Suzie's (Christina Ricci's) screen image of a teenager teetering on the edge of adulthood, exploring her musical talent and blossoming sexuality. A pity that the final version of "Close Your Eyes" sung by Bittova wasn't included, but "The Man Who Cried" is a fantastic soundtrack that captures the tumultuous musical world of WWII Paris.

Moving, versatile, deep and rich. Salvatore Licitra, will you marry me?

The Kronos Quartet, Iva, every artist named and unmentioned on this soundtrack will pull at your heart.

It's not necessary to have seen the movie to appreciate the soundtrack - it is as operatic as cinematic, as large as it is personal, as complex as it is simple.

This is one of the best recorded works I have heard in years, and my musical taste is broad. Spend the few dollars, add it to your collection, enrich your life, for it is short.

Christina

This CD features the debut recording for Salvatore Licitra who proves to be a tenor to look out for in the future. Combined with the powerful voice of Licitra, this CD contains tracks of traditional roma (gypsy) music. Rent/buy the DVD/Video, watch the movie and then buy the CD - you won't regret it.

Excellent CD overall. Iva Bittova is the real discovery - she is sensational, and should perform more songs similar to the two she did in the movie. Salvatore Licitra is also great

The music in this movie is so beautiful, it's almost haunting. I have watched the movie 4 times in the past 3 days and can hardly get enough of it. I was not a fan of Johnny Depp's until now. Salvatore Licitra's voice is incredibly beautiful. I can't say enough.

This is an amazing CD combining familiar and unfamiliar tunes. The result is kind of like pulling a magical rabbit out of an old but at the same time new hat. Those known names like Bizet, Verdi and Puccini are ever present, but the real voice of perfection comes from the name of Osvaldo Golijov whose music breathes a whole kind of magic into what we usually think of as "classical" music. I definitely like this CD and would recommend it to anyone who is out to be seduced (for lack of a better word) by these breathtaking and beautiful sounds.

Beautiful music, some of the best tenor arias from Italian opera, sung perfectly, and then South American music from heaven. I recommend this (hard to find) disc to all.

Although this movie took some critical hits I was mesmerized by the music and the "silent" acting of Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Their eyes expressed emotion that words would have made cumbersome. But back to the music CD: The blend of Russian gypsy music (thrilling) and Italian opera (though lip-synched)was thoroughly entertaining and moving. Very enjoyable but don't expect your friends to share your enthusiasm for it...

this is an amazing soundtrack. the puccini and bizet pieces are magnificent. even if you don't care for opera or classical music it's hard not to love the way these pieces are sung by the amazing tenor.

I came across this video by accident. My wife had recorded it on old fashioned video and was watching it rather late at night. I sat on the edge of the sofa on the way to the bathroom and watched father and daughter playing in the country side. Then the music and singing started and I was hooked! We both sat and watched fascinated by the music, singing and the story line. Great stuff! Salvatore Licitra,the Kronos Quartet and Taraf de Haidouks all produced brilliant work.