Compilation: The Essential Michel Legrand
Music composed and conducted by Michel Legrand
Performed by the Flemish Radio Orchestra
Music from: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Young Girls of Rochefort, Summer of 42, Never Say Never Again, How Do You Keep The Music Playing, The Thomas Crown Affair, What Are You Doing for The Rest Of Your Life, The Three Musketeers, Wuthering Heights, Brian’s Song, Dingo, Yentl, The Go-Between
Running Time: 77:55
Amazon UK Amazon US
Most, if not all, of the above film themes will be well-known and well-loved. It must be stated though that they are all subject to arrangements by the composer who is at the rostrum conducting The Flemish Radio Orchestra in stylish committed performances.
Starting with a soft dreamy, romantic vision that casts a nostalgic vision of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (so too is What Are You Doing the Rest of My Life) we pass to an upbeat jazzy rendering of Young Girls of Rochefort. Sometimes the atmosphere is bleak like the opening and predominant barren heath evocations of Wuthering Heights and the repetitive cold brutal chords that open The Three Musketeers before warmer more romantic, and in the case of the latter, jollier episodes contrast. Brian’s Song opens in another style - as a study in baroque before jazz rhythms take over.
A 12-minute suite from Yentl introduces a lovely harp solo in Jewish melody mode opening out into a gorgeous broad melody. The Go Between (14 minutes) is a set of seven sparkling variations this time with harpsichord prominent
Nice easy listening
Ian Lace
4
Return to Reviews Index