With well over 80 film scores to his credit, Nicola Piovani has been writing
charming themes for films since 1970. Since his 1998 Oscar win for Life if
Beautiful, Pacific Time has released a number of his scores for the North
American audience.
Amongst them is the album Tu Ridi, which includes two gorgeous scores from
the films, 1998's Tu Ridi (You Laugh) and 1997's Mas Alla Del Jardin (Beyond
the Garden). In classic Piovani tradition, both revolve around compelling,
lyrical main themes that are expressed strongly throughout the score with
varied instrumentation. Piovani albums are easy to love for fans who love
film music for those unforgettable themes. His main themes are always fabulous
and memorable, and repeated enjoyably in different styles and tones in almost
every track. There is very little background "filler" music to endure, as
it were.
Whether Piovani simply selects the most melodic cues for release or he only
writes melodic music, the entire listening experience of his albums is notably
effortless and pleasing. His orchestration in both scores is phenomenal--this
is one composer who has an intuitive grasp of the perfect blend of sounds
and effects to pull heartstrings.
Tu Ridi's main theme is an enchanting tune with somewhat of a yearning, old
world feel. Melting with the richness of ripe, vintage wine, the theme is
unspeakably beautiful when performed with a cello in "Felice Abbandonato."
Other times, the same melody expresses sorrow, hope, fear, and resolution,
using different instruments and tempo. There is a second theme that soars
at a faster tempo and climbs to mischievious heights, as if someone's mind
is racing with plots. There are a few other cues that take different turns
in mood, including a highly percussive dance with an electric guitar jamming
away.
Mas Alla Del Jardin (Beyond the Garden) is likewise a spellbinding, eloquent
piece. Here, Piovani wrote a main theme using strings galore, with a resounding,
weighty opening and deep tones of viola and cello sweeping your heart away
. At its best, it isjust primo. There is also a second main theme which makes
this score much more romantic than Tu Ridi, marked by soothing, graceful
melody for the garden. In the first "El Jardin" track, this theme is carried
by glowing piano, the kind you can have an intimate candlelight dinner by
. In the second "El Jardin" track, the same theme is played delicately on
guitar like a gentle serenade. Though short, this is a truly precious gem
of a score.
If there is a shortcoming to these scores, it would be that they are so short
and there isn't more subtle developments within the musical story. But if
you like emotionally luxurious, romantic classical sounds such as the music
of Debbie Wiseman and Luis Bacalov, with grand explicit themes, you would
love this album. This is a welcome oasis of splendid movie music in anotherwise
dry thematic year.
Reviewer
Helen San
We are grateful to Helen San (www.cinemusic.net) for giving us permission
to include this review which is currently appearing on her Film Music site.
See also earlier review by Paul
Tonks
Pacific Time PTE 8508-2
