El Greco (album)
Encyclopedia
- Not to be confused with El Greco Original Motion Picture SoundtrackEl Greco Original Motion Picture SoundtrackEl Greco Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is an audio CD featuring the music score for the 2007 film El Greco, by Greek electronic composer and artist Vangelis, released in Greece and Cyprus by Universal Music Greece...
, a 2007 album also by Vangelis
El Greco is a 1998 classical album by Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
electronic composer and artist Vangelis
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
(born March 29, 1943). The title is an a reference to the man who inspired the composition, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος
El Greco
El Greco was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El Greco" was a nickname, a reference to his ethnic Greek origin, and the artist normally signed his paintings with his full birth name in Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος .El Greco was born on Crete, which was at...
(Dominikos Theotokópoulos, 1541–1614), the Cretan
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
-born painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
better known as El Greco
El Greco
El Greco was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El Greco" was a nickname, a reference to his ethnic Greek origin, and the artist normally signed his paintings with his full birth name in Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος .El Greco was born on Crete, which was at...
.
This album is an expansion of an earlier album by Vangelis, Foros Timis Ston Greco
Foros Timis Ston Greco
Foros Timis Ston Greco is a classical album by Greek electronic composer and artist Vangelis...
. That album had been released in 1995, in a limited edition. For this general release, the track order was rearranged, three new tracks were added, and the album title was changed.
Vangelis composed and arranged the album, and performed all the instruments, accompanied by a choir conducted by Ivan Cassar. The music is in a Byzantine
Byzantine music
Byzantine music is the music of the Byzantine Empire composed to Greek texts as ceremonial, festival, or church music. Greek and foreign historians agree that the ecclesiastical tones and in general the whole system of Byzantine music is closely related to the ancient Greek system...
style yet sounding contemporary due to his use of synthesizers. Soprano Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé is a Spanish operatic soprano. Although she sang a wide variety of roles, she is best known as an exponent of the bel canto repertoire, notably the works of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi....
and tenor Konstantinos Paliatsaras
Konstantinos Paliatsaras
Konstantinos Paliatsaras is a Greek operatic tenor.-Early life and education:Born in Athens, Greece, Paliatsaras was attracted to Opera immediately after hearing Maria Callas at the age of 7. He was taught at the National Concervatoire in Athens by Professor Maggie Karatza and at the Royal Academy...
make guest appearances on one movement each.
The album reached #66 in France and #74 in Germany.
The image on the album is "The Knight with His Hand on His Breast" by El Greco
Track listing
All tracks by VangelisVangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
In parenthesis, correspondence to the track listing of Foros Timis Ston Greco
Foros Timis Ston Greco
Foros Timis Ston Greco is a classical album by Greek electronic composer and artist Vangelis...
.
- Movement I (Movement I) – 10:04
- Movement II (Movement II) – 5:18
- Movement III (new) – 6:48
- Movement IV (Movement III) – 6:21
- Movement V (new) – 4:30
- Movement VI (Movement V) – 7:52
- Movement VII (new) – 3:18
- Movement VIII (Movement IV) – 9:43
- Movement IX (Movement VI) – 12:00
- Movement X (Epilogue) (Movement VII) – 6:21
Movements IV, V, and VI were included in Vangelis' compilation Reprise 1990-1999 (2000).
Personnel
- Montserrat Caballé – soprano
- Konstantinos Paliatsaras – tenor
- Philippe Colonna – engineer, recording
- Rob Dickins – art direction
- Fredrick Rousseau – engineer, recording
- Vangelis – synthesizer, arranger, producer, liner notes