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Among the finest efforts of John Corigliano and James Galway

Dolwyddelan | 02/25/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although less well-known than his inventive music for Altered States, or his popular, Oscar-winning The Red Violin, John Corigliano's score for Hugh Hudson's 1985 film Revolution (Revolution: Revisited) is equally as impressive, and an overlooked gem in his oeuvre. Featuring flute virtuoso James Galway, this recording has, astonishingly, taken nearly a quarter century to be released on CD (the film's poor opening prompted the 11th-hour cancelation of the soundtrack album, which has spent the intervening years unheard apart from the film -- until now).



Corigliano's penchant for eclectic compositional techniques is very much in evidence here. Strident, non-melodic writing and violent tone clusters pervade "Opening Titles: Revolution in the Air", while "War Lament" (underscoring the slaughter of the volunteer American army by superior British forces) is a legato, elegiac piece that builds to a nightmarish crescendo of terror and despair (this music was later incorporated by the composer into his "Symphony No. 1").



"Foxhunt" transforms the "War Lament" motif into an exhilarating, Mendelssohn-like scherzo, while James Galway's talents are showcased in the bittersweet, pastoral "Children's Theme" (which is a close cousin to Corigliano's "Voyage for Flute and String Orchestra"). The climax of the score flourishes into a romantic restatement of the love theme (in a setting that favorably recalls Corigliano's "Elegy for Orchestra").



The performance of The National Philharmonic (a session orchestra recruited from London's top symphony players) is impeccable, and the recording boasts a sonic clarity unrivaled by many recordings made since. Copious liner notes by Corigliano, Hugh Hudson and film historian Nick Redman are included as well.



John Corigliano's forays into cinema have unfortunately been few -- our loss, because he is a born music dramatist, in the very best sense. His scores have added a special dimension of artistry to each of the pictures he has worked on, and also stand by themselves as music of great worth."