Customer Reviews

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was enchanted with this film's version of Shakespeare's most magical play, and the soundtrack was among its greatest delights. The classical pieces are superbly selected from among the most romantic in Western music, such as Mendelssohn's musical version of the play, and arias from Verdi, Puccini, Bellini and Donizetti. I was especially pleased by the inclusion of the "Intermezzo" from Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana," a gorgeous interlude in an otherwise dark opera. But I was most enthralled by the Oriental and highly original quality of Simon Boswell's score for the Fairy scenes--the contrast between the fairies' exotic music and the mortals' beautiful classical music clearly emphasized the very separate worlds that they inhabited. This score is every bit as enchanting as Shakespeare's Midsummer Night of mixed-up romance and magic!

If you want Yanni, buy a Yanni CD. OK? If you want beautiful classical melodies written by Mendelsohn and wonderful, REAL, arias and duets sung by the incomparable Cecilia Bartoli, Renee Fleming et al, then buy this CD. It's amazing. Everyone I know loves it, whether their primary musical interest is classical or not - mine isn't.

The soundtrack and score to this film version of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream " is a breathtaking and beautiful collection. Despite the complaint that the Flower Duet from Lakme (which was apparently featured in the trailer for this film) was not used means really nothing when you hear what they cooked up for this great musical compilation album. As we know, Shakespeare was English and in the past "A Midsummer Night Dream" movies had a very English, jolly and bouncy kind of music. Simon Boswell wanted to try something different. What he came up with was a very avant garde and fascinating musical score. He combined the music that Felix Mendelsshon composed for A Midsummer Night's Dream in the 19th century (here we get to hear the Overture and the famous Wedding March which is used in movies depicting a wedding and even on actual weddings) and Simon Boswell also gathered some bel canto Italian opera excerpts. In addition, his original music is interpolated. Simon Boswell's original music is appropriately exotic, mystic and fairy-like. After all, we are leaving the human and civilized world of the adults and into a world of tiny people in the woods. The original music sounds Hindi and Oriental, spiritual, chamber music style, a blissful integrated music of Western and Eastern.

As for the human touch, Simon Boswell (as explained in the liner notes) decided that the humans introduce opera which is foreign to the fairies- and in many cases, to us people of the pop culture of 2003. The opera he uses was appropriate and relevant in turn of the century Italy, the time the film is set. The film starred Kevin Klein, Michelle Pfeiffer and Calista Flockheart, a group of Edwardians who are tangled up in a chaotic romantic mess in the woods. The selections from the operas here are excellent. Brand names and recognizable stars of today's opera world are featured. They are Luciano Pavoratti (whom everyone knows and can hear from miles away with his extremely loud voice), the beautiful and vocally talented Renee Fleming who sings the best version of Bellini's Casta Diva from the opera Norma and Roberto Alagna, who sings an incredibly moving "Una Furtiva Lagrima" from Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'Amore". Let's not forget the highly acclaimed mezzo soprano Cecilia Bartoli who sings a sensational finale to Rossini's "Cenerentola" or Cinderella. Cecilia's excellent Italian diction, strong voice and dazzling coloratura technique is a pleasure to hear. This cd is a very lovely collection to have. Five stars all the way. Kudos to Simon Boswell.

This is for those who are searching for the song featured in the trailer. I bought the True Romance soundtrack for the Howard Blake arrangement of the Flower Duet (viens mallika) written by Delibes. It turned out to be the same arrangement as used in the soundtrack for the movie The Hunger starring David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve. It doesn't sound like the version I heard on the trailer. I also checked out the Luminaire version but it was more of a techno track with some floating vocals from the duet. Again, not quite what I had expected. There is also a remix of Luminaire's version by Jonathan Peters called "Flower Duet '99" but I haven't heard it (yet). I finally searched through soundtrack.net which has a section identifying music used just for trailers. This identified the Flower Duet as the arrangement by Yanni. I do have one of Yanni's CDs which has a song called "Aria" - I had bought it specifically for the Flower Duet. It does sound quite similar to the trailer version but I can't be sure - somehow the beat in the trailer is stronger and faster (a slightly speeded-up and remixed version?). Anyway, the Yanni version "Aria" is available on some of his CDs. If you're interested, there's even a live version of "Aria" in his Live at the Acropolis CD. For those who have to get every non-operatic version of this, there is also the Malcolm McLaren arrangement (in a compilation CD) which was rather effectively used quite some time ago in the British Airways ads.

This CD is absolutely great! Even people who don't like classical music will like it. Superstars Cecilia Bartoli, Pavarotti,Renee Fleming and Roberto Alagna are at their best!

saw the movie, loved it. got the soundtrack, been an opera fan ever since it's really really great study music what else can i say? oh yeah, purchase this sdtk, it's a good investment.

This is and elegant peice of artwork! The music adds a feeling of love, magic, and beauty. This is one of the best classical/Soudtrack CD I have ever heard. I would highly recommend this!

Simon Boswell's movie was a brilliant new twist on the Shakespeare classic. Set in turn of the century Italy, the soundtrack combines opera and excerpts from Mendelsshon's Midsummer Night's Dream (Overture, Nocturne, Wedding March). The Italian opera used here is brand-name stuff, and featuring the most greatest rendition of "Casta Diva" by modern opera star Renee Fleming(in my opinion, her rendition is by far the best), Cecilia Bartoli singing the finale to Rossini's Cenerentola, and a likeable Brindisi from La Traviata, as well as "Una Furtiva Lagrima" from Donizetti's Elisir D'Amore. The rest of the music is original, a blend of romanticism and Hindi exoticism. I highly recommend for you to watch the film first and then listen to the soundtrack. This is for people who love romantic music and wish to fill their hearts with breathtakingly beautiful music. Can also make an excellent wedding reception music. Viva Romance!

I first heard THE SONG at a romantic restaurant in Australia a couple of years ago. We searched and found it locally - seems like the label was Dharvia or some such. Since then the CD has become misplaced (my husband & I share our home with two young adults that don't keep their CD's organized and think nothing of borrowing etc. - you know the scene). After searching everywhere, I was delighted to hear it on the trailer this spring, but had to wait until the movie was released to search further. Well you know the story, unfortunately THE SONG was not included. Please email me directly with any information. I am gleaning some info from these reviews, but if anyone has complete information I would certainly appreciate it.

I loved this soundtrack, and the movie, but that's beside the point. I personally didn't buy it for the movie trailer song, but for Brindisi (Alagna and Fleming do this one I think). A great song. Hot Ice is also good. Boswell captured most of the movie scenes perfectly. The CD is excellent.