Opera Sauvage
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Opera Sauvage | ||
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| Studio album by Vangelis | ||
| Released | 1979 | |
| Recorded | 1978–1979 | |
| Genre | Electronica | |
| Length | 43:06 | |
| Label | Polydor | |
| Producer(s) | Vangelis | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Vangelis chronology | ||
| Odes (1979) |
Opera Sauvage (1979) |
See You Later (1980) |
Opera Sauvage is a 1979 album by the Greek artist Vangelis. It was originally a soundtrack for the nature documentary by the same name by the French filmmaker Frédéric Rossif. Pieces have been used for other purposes as well.
[edit] Track listing
- "Hymne" – 2:40
- "Rêve" – 12:26
- "L'enfant" – 4:57
- "Mouettes" – 2:28
- "Chromatique" – 3:25
- "Irlande" – 4:43
- "Flamants Roses" – 11:50
[edit] Instrumentation
Vangelis plays several synthesizers, piano, electric piano (featured extensively on track 2), drums, percussion, xylophone, acoustic guitar (track 5)
Jon Anderson is credited with playing harp on "Flamants Roses".
[edit] Other appearances
The theme "L'enfant" appeared in the film The Year of Living Dangerously with Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver.
In Italy "Hymne" is universally known for having been the tune of the famous commercials for Barilla pasta throughout the 1980's.
"Hymne" gained significant airplay as tune to an Ernest & Julio Gallo wine commercial.
A documentary on the Chariots of Fire special-edition DVD relates that director Hugh Hudson intended to use "L'Enfant", which he was particularly fond of, over the well-known first scene on the beach, until Vangelis talked him into letting him compose the now-famous Titles theme. The director then had "L'Enfant" being played by a brass band [1].
[edit] Style
Vangelis produced this album during his "electro-acoustic" period, which was probably the most productive in his musical career. Opera Sauvage is more mature than his earlier nature scores, such as Apocalypse des Animaux and La Fête Sauvage. Later work for Rossif included Sauvage et Beau.
"Hymne", "L'enfant", "Mouettes" and "Irlande" build on fairly simple themes that are developed instrumentally. "Rêve" is, indeed, as the title suggests, a dreamy calm piece. "Chromatique" has a chromatic instrumental line with chords on an acoustic guitar. "Flamants Roses", finally, consists of several parts, from slow to upbeat, and finishing off with a bluesy finale; Jon Anderson features prominently on harp.
