beautiful score...beautiful voices...
937328
Beautiful non-traditional Broadway score by Jason Robert Brown. Kelli O'Hara and Steven Pasquale are as incredible on the CD as on the first night of previews. The opening solo notes are still haunting.
3782737
I've heard of "Chess" but never got around to seeing a live production or listening to a soundtrack. As an ABBA fan I was always curious what kind of musical Benny and Bjorn would produce since their ABBA pop-rock tunes were so incredible. Then PBS announced a special concert version of "Chess" featuring Josh Groban, Idina Menzel and Adam Pascal. So I watched it....

Wow! "Chess In Concert" really looked and sounded impressive. The only thing was I had trouble with the diction. I had to put the captions on to truly understand what was happening on stage. Once I got to view the lyrics with the vocals I was very impressed and kinda blown away by it all.

I'm not a "Grobanite" but I have to admit that Josh Groban (Anatoly) did a good job both vocally and dramatically. Adam Pascal (Frederick) never disappoints me. I could listen to his raspy rock voice all day long. Same with Idina Menzel (Florence). No, I'm not a "Grobanite" but this "Renthead" was very pleased to see the original Maureen and Roger share the stage again.

I also liked Kerry Ellis as Anatoly's wife, Svetlana. Ellis has a really neat voice that seems to be very sweet but with a touch of edginess (and what an irony that both Menzel and Ellis played the role of Elphaba in "Wicked"). The cast had a nice mix of classical operatic voices and rock opera wailers. The score is the same way with a blending of ballads, anthems, and toe tapping dance tracks.

Aside from the lavish staging (including a huge on-stage orchestra and a small army of choir singers), the powerful vocals and the dramatic score the story of "Chess In Concert" was easier to follow than I thought it would be. It's your basic love triangle scenario with Frederick losing his partner, Florence, to Anatoly except that Anatoly is already married with kids. Then things get more complicated because of politics, greed and chess tournaments.

Overall, even if you don't buy "Chess In Concert" then you should at least rent this or catch it on public television because this is a sensational performance by a large assortment of talented singers and dancers. One way you can identify a good musical is if you're caught humming the tunes after the show is done. I've got at least five on my mental IPOD as we speak (The Arbiter, Nobody's On Nobody's Side, Pity The Child, One Night In Bangkok, I Know Him So Well). "Chess In Concert" is good.
1746121
Beautiful and strong. A perfect musical score that compliments the story, acting and scenery of the movie. Provides the sounds to create emotional breadth without becoming overwhelming.
597827
I really liked this CD - for a lot of reasons. First, I really love to hear new music from talented emerging composers. I often scan amazon for new musicals that I've never heard of before, and that fit my personal tastes - which tend to be a bit more melancholy and melodic than maybe some others might prefer. When I came across this show, it seemed to fit the bill. Beautiful piano melodies, wonderful lyrical content, and a story with a lot of heart. The samples sounded like they were attached to songs that would be right up my alley - and I can say, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I was not disappointed. As I listened, I was reminded a little bit of The Last Five Years, but I also felt the newness and originality of Adding Machine (which is a little known musical that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND). The story is a bit choppy, but it features a lot of introspection, and a fair amount of comedic story-telling that will take you away from the soliloquy just long enough to keep you interested. Timothy Huang does an excellent job on both the music and lyrics and it will quickly become clear that this is a composer that we should be hearing a lot more from - if everything goes well.

So, all in all, I am really happy with my purchase. But I do have a few minor complaints, which will certainly seem like nitpicking, but, instead, I hope they are taken as constructive criticism for a very talented and ambitious production team. The first minor criticism has to do with the minimalistic instrumentation. The score features only piano and trumpet - and the latter is only featured very sparingly. Now, for some scores, like The Last Five Years, this approach seems perfectly natural. But, for this one, it somehow feels unfinished. This may just be a matter of personal taste, and it is certainly not my place to question the motivations of the composer. But I somehow can't help but feel like this soundtrack was just a first pass at a much larger vision. My second comment is along sort of the same lines, and has to do with the very limited cast of one. Again, I feel like I am missing a lot of the story because we are only presented with one character. It just feels a little lazy to me - like it would have been too much effort to hire an entire cast. Again, this is only my opinion. Lastly, I was rather unimpressed with the "pitchiness" of the performance. There were some parts, in fact, that were rather hard for me to listen to. Now, don't get me wrong, it's clear that Shon Wiley can sing his heart out. But the recording, once again, feels a little lazy - like certain parts that should have been re-recorded, simply were not. This is never more evident than on the last track, which is, in fact, much better performed by the composer on the bonus track (which I absolutely love, by the way - almost as much as I love the fact that it was included).

Overall, it may sound like I am being harsh in these last comments, but I really am not. Nitpicky, maybe, but not harsh - because, the fact is, I really love this CD, I really admire this composer, and I really want this show to succeed. And, it's because of all this that I want it to be the best that it absolutely can be.

So, with that, I say: Best of luck to this very inspiring new composer and to a very heartfelt and enjoyable new show!
2347137
As a classically trained musician and former theater person, I have developed an ear for especially evocative and carefully crafted film scores.  This one is absolutely top-notch.  The film itself is excellent, but the music stands on its own.  The overture is particularly exhilarating.  This is a beautifully created, cheerful revel.  The compositions, musicianship, and recording quality are all excellent.

For Shakespearean soundtracks, please also try Jocelyn Pook's music for The Merchant of Venice and Simon Rattle's soundtrack for Henry V.  Their intensity is not as cheerful as Much Ado, but is equally rewarding.  Also seek an out-of-print copy of the 2-CD set Shakespeare at the Movies.  All of these stand on their own, and are well-worth listening to.
1690033
Solti's conducting is sublime. The strings have that dreamy quality that tell you that you're about to hear a love story. And what a story it is: unrequited love, scorn, jealousy, anger-rage, guilt, loyalty....all tied up with Tchaikovsky's personal sexual torments in the real world! That aside, the chorus is beautiful: `folky' where necessary (the opening scene) and mellifluous and sweet (the orchard scene). Tatiana's letter scene is the most endearingly conducted that I have ever heard. The instruments really spin a fairytale-like backdrop for a young girl's dreams and ambitions (flute and clarinet, I believe).
The singers? Teresa Kubiak's Tatiana is very passionate but her voice isn't to my personal liking....and this is, after-all, what reviews are about. She has what is maybe more of a `tremble' than a `wobble' (as opposed to a vibrato), but she sounds somewhat vocally insecure. Even so, this isn't a problem to many people, though I admit I don't listen to this recording often enough because of it. To be fair though, she gets much better on the second disc; especially towards the end. Bern Weikl (baritone and not tenor as stated by a previous reviewer) sings the title role well enough, though not with too much passion.
Enid Hartle as Tatiana's Nursemaid is beautiful. She's my favourite on this disc, even though her role is small. A warm, rich and enveloping mezzo voice without the heaving wobble thought necessary by some. Anna Reynolds also gives a stunning performance as the `Mamma' (firm and rich). Stuart Burrows' Lensky wrenches your heart with the intensity of his emotions and his brilliant, clear and expressive voice. As for Nicolai Ghiaurov's Gremin, no disappointments there. The foundation stands secure...deep, sonorous and expressive.
I'll try the Hvorostovy/Focile (Bychkov) on Phillips before I declare this one tops.
4001303
This is one of my favorite James Horner scores of all time. The score is outstanding and there is not one boring part in it. It is an enjoyable listening from start to finish. The theme is brass dominated, with excellent trumpet solos by Tim Morrison. "All Systems Go/The Launch" is a dynamite 10 minute cue that builds and builds into a huge orchestral statement of the main theme that gives you chill bumps every time you hear it because it is so good. "Re-Entry & Splashdown" is an outstanding finale with the orchestra soaring to the heavens for 9 minutes. "End Title" rehashes the main theme with Annie Lennox singing it first and then the orchestra stating it once more. "Dark Side Of The Moon" contains Lennox's moody vocals to represent the coldness and isolation in space. "Master Alarm" contains trademark Horner action music with strings, brass, and percussion. The album also contains great songs that I feel should have gotten their own release separate from the score from such artists as James Brown, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, among others. There is also some dialogue present in several tracks that add to the listening experience of the score and songs. Overall an outstanding score that cannot be passed up.
154883
I love classical movie scores, and this music is so amazing. It portrays emotion so well. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the movie, but the soundtrack is superb!! The reason I gave it 4 stars was because I do not like digital downloads, because I love tangible CDs that I can touch, stare at, play in my car (I only have a cd player/radio), and leaf through the booklets. 5 stars for the music, 4 stars for the medium.
1141305
The music in this film is so exceptional that one finds himself "aware" of it as the film progresses.  The music does not distract from the experience but adds immeasurably to it.  More often than not, score music is simply spacing between scenes or background noise . . . not the case with this outstanding selection of cuts.
2765377
The soundtrack to "Wayward Pines" is great! This is another great soundtrack / score from Charlie Clouser. This is a solid and well-crafted score / soundtrack. This is also another great soundtrack / score, as well, too. All (14) tracks on here are great.

Track Listing:
1. Wayward Pines Main Titles Theme (3 out of 4 stars)
2. Episode One Suite Part 1: Eyes Open, Biergarten Call, Kate Flashback (4 out of 4 stars)
3. Episode One Suite Part 2: Leave Hospital, Steal Car (4 out of 4 stars)
4. Episode Two Suite: Morgue Slab, No Patients, Break Protocol, Mausoleum Chip, Hide the Chip (4 out of 4 stars)
5. Episode Two: Kill Beverly (4 out of 4 stars)
6. Episode Three Suite: Pope's Speech, Forest Kitchen, Empty House (4 out of 4 stars)
7. Episode Three: Please Stay (4 out of 4 stars)
8. Episode Four Suite: Leaking Oil, Floor Safe, Find It, Weakness, Rumor True, End for Me (4 out of 4 stars)
9. Episode Five Suite: Kids Talk, Fourth Century, Think Bigger (4 out of 4 stars)
10. Episode Six Suite: Bigger Than Us, New Project, Make It Better (4 out of 4 stars)
11. Episode Seven Suite: Locate Harold, Miss Seattle, Breach Fence, Snoop Around (4 out of 4 stars)
12. Episodes Eight and Nine Suite: Six Hundred Dead, Dad Failed, Kill Me, So Have I, Theresa Swings (4 out of 4 stars)
13. Episode Ten Suite: Shaft Action, Great Experiment, People Surprise You (4 out of 4 stars)
14. Episode Ten: Farewell (3 1/2 out of 4 stars)
3765115
I've always enjoyed Great Scores and this album is no exception, but while reading some of the customer recommendations posted on this site I discovered a group by the name of MEHDl (pronounced medie). After an online search I found their site (S00THINGMUSIC,C0M) and listened to the samples...
I was instantly blown away by the quality of this music and so I gave it a try and now that I have listened to these CDs several times I really must say that although I'm still a big fan of this CD, I find MEHDl to be a great addition to this CD. I have them both in my multi-disc CD player and love the way they compliment each other. I highly recommend that you give this artist a try or atleast just go listen to the samples, I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.
2223954
It's a bit silly, I know, to write a review of this album. The movie is generally lambasted for the vocal qualities of the principals, so why bother with the soundtrack? Well, for one thing, some of us are fans of the movie and consider it--and the talent of the principals--underrated. And further, a review like this is probably the only way to connect with others who share our esteem for the movie.

I love the movie. Shepherd and Reynolds can't sing very well, but they aren't painful, either. I'd call them eager amateurs. Kahn and De Prete are good singers. The orchestrations are ravishing, some of the best orchestrations I've ever heard for Porter (only "I Love Him (but He Didn't Love Me)" is too rushed), and it's great to hear some neglected gems alongside the famous numbers. The script bubbles with wit and charm. The movie looks like a dream.

There are a few problems with this soundtrack, though, even for fans of the film. Remember the vocals were recorded live on set, which means not just that the vocal takes here are the exact ones in the film (good) but also that the extraneous noise on set was recorded directly onto the track with the vocals and couldn't be removed for a purer sound (bad). Differences in sound quality relating to the performers' distance from the mike, or echoes in a large room for a portion of a song, or the sounds of props being handled, feet crossing the floor (not just tap dancing), etc. all mar the pleasure of hearing the songs in isolation from the movie.

Ironically, despite the fact that is would make it easier and less jarring to incorporate the songs left off the original double album vinyl release (as opposed to Angel's attempt with its Rodgers and Hammerstein soundtracks, where the polished originals are now set next to extras with annoying extraneous noise), they haven't done that here, though the liner notes make clear that this CD was made in response to the film's new lease on life via Blu-ray. So Madeleine Kahn's "Down in the Dephts (on the Ninetieth Floor)" and Duilio De Prete's "Tomorrow" are missing, as is the section of "Friendship" which takes place in the car and the reprise of "From Alpha to Omega." Oddly, there are extra verses of Cybill Shepherd's first number,"Which" (I'm happy to have them--too bad the footage wasn't restored for the DVD).

Incidentally, if like me, you thought some of the cut numbers like Midlred Natwick's rendition of "Kate the Great," were available here, unfortunately they aren't. While the album did contain more numbers than the release print, everything here is in the film as it is currently available. So, really, if you have the ability to rip tracks from a Blu-ray, you might as well save your money and do that. You'll get the exact same audio quality, and you'll have everything included on this CD and more. But if not, and you want to listen to this music in the car (as I do), it's worth the purchase.
1199427
This is one of the best scores I've heard in a long time.  As a college graduate in music and performance, I thought the music was perfect for the emotions the characters created.  The "love" theme is absolutely moving.  Alexandre Desplat used in several key points in the film.  "Edward Leaves" is especially beautiful.  The music helped me feel what the characters were going through.  I thought this score was a definite step up from Carter Burwell's score from "Twilight," although I liked his, too.

Additionally, the London Symphony Orchestra did a wonderful job performing.  It wouldn't surprise me if there was an Oscar Nomination, but then again I am a bit partial to the series.
1993321
This is a powerful performance of this classic score. Yes, the movie soundtrack is amazing and we all grew up on it. It remains definitive but Tilson-Thomas wrings out so much beauty and lyricism in so many parts of the score that it surpasses the soundtrack in many places ("One hand, One Heart" is breathtakingly beautiful here - I mean it - it literally took my breath away for a moment). There are a few moments when the vocalists don't match up to the originals ("Something's Coming" is far better on the soundtrack), but this is not to be missed, no matter how much you may think you don't think you need to hear WSS again.
544323
Music From The Motion Picture "MEAN CREEK"

I had to order the soundtrack to Mean Creek shortly after seeing it. I loved the music so much and couldn't get some songs, especially "Our Love Is Beautiful" by Ethan Gold, out of my head. I needed to own all of the superb music from this amazing film. The music is perfect and brings you back to many scenes in the movie, and makes you think about the characters. Loving the movie so much and caring about the characters, it actually makes me kind of depressed listening to this soundtrack, yet I'm also happy because the music is just so great and so is the film. One thing's for sure, the film is highly effective and really stays with you, which gives the soundtrack even more of a punch and the ability to feel all of those emotions that the film made you feel.

Produced and composed by Tomandandy, they couldn't have done a more terrific job with the soundtrack. Not usually a huge fan of score music, it really blew me away here and I definitely noticed it. The film easily has the best score music of the year. I also love the various artists' music. I adore the songs "Sound And Light" by John Gold, "Our Love Is Beautiful" by Ethan Gold, "Hope Springs Eternal" by John Gold, "Butterfly Collector" by John Gold, and "Angel On My Shoulder" by Gretchen Lieberum and Tomandandy. The only two I don't really care for are "On Edge" by Ethan Gold and "Poison" by Lost Goat. Since they were in the movie though I am glad they were included on the soundtrack. Others I'm sure will be glad that they're on it, and most of the time a soundtrack should include all of the music from the movie if possible. I am disappointed though that it is missing some songs, such as "Mental" and "Novocaine For The Soul" by Eels ("Mental" is especially missed), "The Way We Get By" by Spoon, "The Sound Of Settling" by "Death Cab For Cutie," and "Pot Kettle Black" by Wilco. I much rather would have had these over "On Edge" and "Poison." It's really a shame they couldn't have been on the soundtrack. Anyway, that being said, the score music is pretty great and I remember almost all of it in the film. ****WARNING: These Score Titles Might Spoil The Movie If You Haven't Seen It Yet - Skip Them If You Haven't**** My favorites are "First Launch," "The River," "Second Launch," "Drowning," "Panic Attack," "The Fight (The Brain)," "Bloodpact," "Rowing Home," "Hitchhike," "George's Mom," and "Unburial." ****END SPOILERS****

This is one amazing soundtrack to one amazing film. Easily one of the very best film soundtracks of 2004! The only real flaw this soundtrack has is that it's missing a few songs from the movie that I liked and would have appreciated being on the soundtrack. But if you're a fan of the movie and the music in the film, then this soundtrack is a MUST HAVE! I couldn't recommend it more. It's a shame this brilliant music, that couldn't have been better in this film, didn't get any Oscar recognition for the music categories. I haven't heard more perfect score music all year - in fact, this is some of the best score music I've ever heard and has to be some of the best ever recorded. Flawless and breathtaking!

Grade: A+
2342163
I liked this recording from the very first listen! The score is a bit old fashioned but it certainly works for the time period and for the story it is telling. Definitely full of lovely and immediately accessible melodies - especially "How The Other Half Lives" ( a great opener by the way!), "Give", "First You Serve Your Husband" (Rita Gardner still in wonderful voice!), "The Life of the Party", and "If We Go On". And the performances are all all top-notch! We should always be thrilled by new musical theatre scores and make sure they are heard and shared.
3876012
This is easily one of the best scores John Williams ever did. He sets the perfect tone of this film with the music he has created for this film. I will give my personal opinion about each song in this soundtrack:
1. Theme from Schindler's List (5/5 stars)  An amazing main theme (Something John Williams is good at creating)
2. Jewish Town (Krakow Ghetto-Winter '41) (4/5) Pretty good song, but not the best one. Has the same tune as Schindler's Workforce but on the violin (which sounds great)
3. Immolation (With Our Lives, We Give Life) (5/5) Chilling song from that scene. Best part for me is when the main theme is played on the flute (Don't know the exact name of that type of flute
4. Remembrances (5/5) Almost as good as the main theme itself. This is possibly the secondary theme
5. Schindler's Workforce (5/5 stars) My favorite song out of the entire soundtrack besides the main theme. First minute and a half of this song is the main theme but then it changes up to be like a completely different song which is my favorite part.
6. Oyf'n Pripetshok And Nact Aktion (4/5) First minute of this song is in Yiddish then the rest is instrumental
7. I Could Have Done More (5/5) Amazing song for an amazing scene
8. Auschwitz-Birkenau (4/5) Haunting music but appropriate for that scene
9. Stolen Memories (5/5) A great song. Half way through the song the main theme is played on the harp (I think it's a harp)
10. Making the List (5/5)
11. Give Me Your Names (5/5) Pretty good song. Secondary theme plays throughout
12. Yerushalaim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold) (5/5) I liked this song more than I thought I would. Pretty catchy
13. Remembrances (with Itzhak Perlman) (4/5) My least favorite song out of the entire soundtrack just because I prefer the other version better
14. Theme from Schindler's List (Reprise) (5/5) Love how the main theme sounds on the piano. Very beautiful

All in all this is a wonderful soundtrack and I highly recommend this to any fan of John Williams