As told by John Madden (director of Shakespeare in Love, not the NFL guy), the screen adaptation of novelist Louis de Bernières's World War II love story Corelli's Mandolin has taken some dramatic licenses. But in col... more »oring his recasting of the popular romantic drama, Madden once again turned to his Academy Award-winning Shakespeare collaborator, Stephen Warbeck. The composer displays his mastery of romantic drama (though here in a bit more somber setting), casting the main love theme of "Pelagia's Song" in a mood that's more emotional than geographic. Warbeck's music then subtly coaxes the Italian and Greek influences from the source material, interpolating some Verdi and other standard works with occasionally dryly humorous effect (Italian infantryman segue from "La Donna e Mobile" to crooning the hoary German standard "Lili Marlene"). "The Tango" and "The Mandolin" offer up some ethnically diverse, if warmly human dimensions to the proceedings, with "Agii Fanentes," "The Guitar," and "On the Jetty" adding to their spare instrumental charm. Warbeck's emotionally compelling final cues are seasoned with a pair of strong performances by young English tenor sensation Russell Watson, "Senzi di Te" and "Ricordo Ancor," a lovely vocal version of the main love theme. --Jerry McCulley« less
As told by John Madden (director of Shakespeare in Love, not the NFL guy), the screen adaptation of novelist Louis de Bernières's World War II love story Corelli's Mandolin has taken some dramatic licenses. But in coloring his recasting of the popular romantic drama, Madden once again turned to his Academy Award-winning Shakespeare collaborator, Stephen Warbeck. The composer displays his mastery of romantic drama (though here in a bit more somber setting), casting the main love theme of "Pelagia's Song" in a mood that's more emotional than geographic. Warbeck's music then subtly coaxes the Italian and Greek influences from the source material, interpolating some Verdi and other standard works with occasionally dryly humorous effect (Italian infantryman segue from "La Donna e Mobile" to crooning the hoary German standard "Lili Marlene"). "The Tango" and "The Mandolin" offer up some ethnically diverse, if warmly human dimensions to the proceedings, with "Agii Fanentes," "The Guitar," and "On the Jetty" adding to their spare instrumental charm. Warbeck's emotionally compelling final cues are seasoned with a pair of strong performances by young English tenor sensation Russell Watson, "Senzi di Te" and "Ricordo Ancor," a lovely vocal version of the main love theme. --Jerry McCulley
"Very disappointed in this soundtrack. Was mislead in the movie theater when I found that the great track during the preview was not included on this CD. (The only reason I picked this CD up)."
Trailer Song
Eric | LA, CA USA | 08/16/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Just to help: the trailer song which is NOT on the CD is called "Tonight and the Rest of my Life" by Nina Gordon"
Attn: Found the great song from the preview
David Hwu | Greenville, SC USA | 08/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For all of us who have been looking and buying thid cd for the song we heard during the preview your search is over. The song is "Tonight and the rest of my life" by Nina Gordon. Hope this helps. Email me if it does."
The Average Rating is Wrong!
k2 | Cleveland, OH USA | 08/18/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Stephen Warbeck's score for "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" is great. "Pelugia's Song" is one of the most haunting love songs in recent memory. The reviews that rate this album based on the fact that it does not include Nina Gordon's great "Tonight and the Rest of My Life" should be removed. As another reviewer writes, movie trailers are prone to grab any music they can to sell a movie. I saw the original trailer in the theatre and it had "Pelugia's Song" played by the entire orchestra and it was fabulous. Then, I guess they were getting desperate because this score does not contain 8,000 rock songs like a lot of today's films usually do. So a new trailer was constructed with Nina Gordon's song, which is also very beautiful but very misleading. Then, I saw another trailer which has some other music in it. Over the years, we have heard themes from "Dragonheart," "The Last Dragon," "The American President," and others slapped over trailers that had nothing to do with the movie. When I saw the first trailer and heard the real music from the film, I was moved and suspicious at the same time: was this the real music from the movie? Or would I have to start searching for somebody's else's soundtrack? No, Nina's wonderful song does not appear in the movie. Instead, we have Russell Watson singing "Pelugia's Song." This is the finest score of the year. Buy it!"
Brings back memories
aglass1919 | Indianapolis, IN United States | 04/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Awsome music; lyrics, as well as instrumentals. Takes you away to a land of beauty. If you also grew up with Italian music in your home, you may especially enjoy this version of standard favorites such as Santa Lucia and La Donna E Mobile. I consider this movie as the Italian Americans' "Pearl Harbor". Lots of heroism in the movie and the music elaborates on that with spendor."