Customer Reviews

The Pianist: Music from the Motion Picture

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The film score to "The Pianist" has to be the best Chopin collection ever made for film and comprises one of the better film scores of recent years. The Chopin selections are all thoughtful and connect powerfully to images presented in the film. Pianist Janusz Oleiniczak is an extrovert Chopin performer captured in exemplary DDD sound. I think this is not only one of the better film scores for classical music, it is one of the better Chopin collections from recent years. The music is scrupulously selected to represent the emotions generated in the stark visual imagery -- from the melancholy Nocturne in C-sharp minor that represents the beginning of the end for thousands of Jews...to the powerful Ballade No. 1 played to a sympathetic German officer...to the Andante Spinato and Grande Poloniase Brilliant that triumphantly ends the flim over closing credits. "The Pianist" is a remarkable film that deserves its many plaudits and its score adds much to its reputation. The two are indispensable parts of an unforgettable artistic experince.

I bought this CD after seeing the movie 'The Pianist' twice, and reading the book by Wladyslaw Szpilman once. I have listened to it at least 20 times by now and I am still not tired of it. I am not a musician, nor do I understand music, but I do enjoy great music, particularly classical music. I liked Chopin long before I saw this movie but now I am a big fan of Chopin. A lot of the credit goes to Roman Polanski who created a masterpiece, to Adrien Brody's superb acting, and the wonderful piano by Janusz Olejniczak. My most favorite piece is Ballade No.1 in G minor,op. 23 (#5 on the CD), which Szpilman's character in the movie plays for the German officer. I also love Nocturne in C sharp minor (#1 on the CD), which we hear at the beginning of the movie, and after the war is over. The Grande Polonaise at the very end (#9 on CD) fills me with great joy because to me it represents a happy ending, inspite of irrecoverable loss. I have listened to Chopin played by several other pianists, and I like Olejniczak's interpretation very much. The 'ghetto' piece by Kilar, though a bit out of place among the Chopin pieces, brings back memories of this wonderful movie. Without it, the CD would have been incomplete. My minor disappointment is that the cello piece played by the character Dorota, and the small portion of Moonlight Sonata, are not on this CD. I would have liked to see them included. Other than that, this is a wonderful CD and I am very happy with my purchase.

A previous reviewer considerately corrected others who are perhaps not as well versed as he is about classical music. That reviewer also quite cavalierly dismissed the playing of Janusz Olejniczak, chiefly it appears because this is a movie soundtrack.
A number of eminent pianists - Rubinstein, Bolet, Moravec, Ax, among many others - have recorded movie soundtracks. And, like them, Olejniczak has recorded a great deal more. For instance, his albums for the Opus 111 label, which also recorded Sokolov, should be sampled by all lovers of Chopin, if only because Olejniczak can be heard playing on one record an Erard piano from Chopin's time, and on another an even more remarkable Pleyel. It's fascinating to find the Erard really does have what Chopin called a "ready-made" tone; the Pleyel by comparison is a revelation.
But then so it the playing of Olejniczak. He was not discovered by Roman Polanski. Olejniczak was a prize-winner of the Warsaw Chopin competition at the age of 18. He is greatly respected in his native Poland and in Japan, which both know something about great Chopin playing.
Olejniczak is a forceful artist who nevertheless never pounds; one frequently is put in mind of how Chopin envied the powerful way Liszt played his etudes. Olejniczak's Polish "accent" is, of course, entirely appropriate for Chopin, as is his wonderful voicing of chords and sure but free rhythm. Olejniczak plays with a full-throated lyricism -- it is the Bellini of "Norma" rather than "Sonnambula" -- but the pianist can also be touchingly tender. Above all he is dramatic in the fullest sense, vividly characterizing each piece. It's easy to see why Polanski and other film directors have been drawn to him. Chopin clearly is Olejniczak's life blood.
That previous reviewer may sincerely prefer such very different musicians, one to the other, as Rachmaninoff, Rubinstein, Cortot and Argerich, but I hope no one will hold it against Olejniczak (who, by the way, I don't know personally -- no special pleading here!) simply because he is not as widely known as some other pianists. He is a genuine find, and Polanski should be thanked for sharing a superb talent with a wider public.

It tears at your psyche like no film has in a long time. The Pianist is appealing on so many different levels. The beauty of the music that Szpilman uses to keep himself alive set against the backdrop of the most horrific scenes of human degradation imaginable. This film puts Polanski on a whole new level of filmmaker, easily surpassing Speilberg's Schindler's List in quality of sets, locations, editing, musicianship - everything! It is authentic in that Polanski uses mainly Polish craft workers in the production. Highly recommended!

Just as surely as Roman Polanski's "The Pianist" was easily the most powerful film I have seen during my four decades on this earth, so has the movie's soundtrack transformed (i.e., expanded) my musical horizons. As child of the sixties for whom a purchase of classical music would have seemed anathema only a few short years ago, the stirring echos of "The Pianist" and its magnificent soundtrack are akin to a groove in the soul....they remind us all of the transcending power of music, the enduring goodness and presence of humanity in the midst of bestiality...the staggering gifts of the protagonists (Wladislaw Szpilman and Frederic Chopin) as they conjoin to vanquish unspeakable evil and degradation. Not only a director of subtle genius and commanding skill, Roman Polanski also escaped the Nazi terror at a heartbreakingly tender age (seven). Having lost his mother to Auschwitz, Polanski survived intermittently on the kindness of strangers and his own wits, but miraculously prevailed. Speaking words of surpassing eloquence, Polanski gives credence to the Polish pianist (Janusz Olejniczak) whose brilliant majesty pervades this soundtrack. As an accomplished pianist in my own youth, I know - keenly - that 90% of the works on this soundtrack are adequately performed by only the most able of musicians. Olejniczak does that - and much, much more. Track #9 - "Grande Polonaise in E-flat Major" is, in a word, breathtaking. Polanski wisely chose this piece as the backdrop to the film's climactic final scene. It had the audience (including myself) standing in rapt attention until the very last second - and applauding joyously at its conclusion. In conclusion, if the true measure of a film and is soundtrack is the ability to inform and influence others - then this stellar work has achieved this goal for this discerning film and music fan. I ceased performing on the piano years ago (1971), yet the ability to play never left me - until the summer of 1992, when I tried to play an old standard from my youth - and could not do so. Nor could I remember a single chord from even the simplest sonata - the ability to play had left me. Or so I thought. But "The Pianist" and its spine-tingling soundtrack have inspired me. I have vowed to try anew - to attempt to re-learn the ability to play. I may fail miserably - or my abilities may be all for naught. But I'd like to try. Don't get me wrong - I still love the Beatles. I still savor the sonic splendor of The Deftones and the inventive harmonies of Sonic Youth and Coldplay. But, like the very finest works of art, the soundtrack to "The Pianist" is something to be savored - slowly, like manna from the highest heavens. The visceral Valhalla and propulsive immediacy of the best rock 'n roll is still precious to this music buff, but age brings wisdom - and appreciation. My deepest thanks to Roman Polanski, Frederic Chopin, Wladislaw Szpilman and Janusz Olejniczak for the gift of "The Pianist." May its legacy endure - forever.

The Pianist soundtrack is a wonderful collection of Chopin's songs that accurately and effectively reflect the songs Szpilman played during one of the most tumultuous times in history. Though only one song is authentically performed by Szpilman, the songs played by Janusz Olejniczak genuinely project Szpilman's emotion with his musical interpretation. His interpretation of the music appropriately fits the film's pathos to its greatest potential through musical elements of crescendos, decrescendos and tempo changes. Szpilman's emotion and passion for music are fully realized in one of the most poignant scenes of the movie, when he plays his heart out for the SS officer to prove he was and still is a pianist. This not only is a great starter collection for those who are not familiar with Chopin's music, but is also a vehicle for us to transcend ourselves back to this heart-felt and truly moving film.

I went to see The Pianist knowing only that it a Roman Polanksi film about the Warsaw Ghetto. I left the theatre stunned by the power of this film, incredulous that it didn't win the Best Picture Oscar. The other "star" of the film, in addition to the amazing Adrian Brody, is the music of Chopin. I have long loved Chopin but this film really brought out in a new way all the melancholy, romance, nationalistic fervor for and love of Poland, and ultimately, spiritual uplift that make Chopin so great. This soundtrack has even more Chopin than
the movie and the pianist on all but one, Janusz Olejniczak, to my ear at least, does a marvelous job of interpretation. I also enjoyed the recording by Szpilman himself.

I almost didn't order this CD when I read one review here about it being "butchered" lol...but I went ahead anyway, since I love this music. I am a pianist and play almost everything on the CD, so was absolutely delighted to find that I do love this CD and am so glad I did order it - I personally find the performances/interpretations just wonderful. I love playing the 1st Ballade especially and thought this rendition was brilliant. Hope this helps someone.

While not versed in the finer aspects of classical music or their composers as other reviewers on this page are, I like to think of myself as someone who appreciates classical music and the Pianist soundtrack is classical music at its best.

Being half-Polish, I heard of Frederic Chopin through the years but was never told of him or his beautiful - if somewhat sad - music (I learned much about Beethoven, my favorite composer, though). I was cheated but feel that I have caught up for lost time with this soundtrack.

My favorite track is "Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1." It's four and a half minutes of pure bliss. Kudos to Janusz Olejniczak for playing beyond beautiful piano (he's not a concert pianist for no reason, eh?).

The Pianist is one of the best movie soundtracks of all time. The movie was powerful (unlike *other* directors who made Holocaust films, Roman actually lived through that black period in human history, making it a cut above the rest), the book was moving and the soundtrack is great relaxation.

The Pianist is a great and "fantaztisch" movie itself! Note the great actors Adrien Brody and Thomas Kretschmann. Now, how would the movie be without the music itself that inspired and still inspiring thousands of people who listened to it.

All the piano works are classical and have a story of it's own.
From the Nocturnes; sad, moving and played on the first part of the movie (yes, the intro) and when the jews are fighting and facing their nightmares.
To Ballade 1 & 2, which was played by Spilzman (adrien brody) in that movie when he met up with the german officer Hosenfeld (thomas kretschmann)..

Just by listening to the soundtrack you could already see and feel the whole movie. Especially the Nocturnes... very touching.. recommending this album to those who fell in love to the piano works in the movie like i was, just by listening it for the first time! :)