Opera Sauvage
Encyclopedia
Opéra sauvage is a 1979 album, by Greek
composer and artist Vangelis
, of the score for the nature documentary by the same title by French
filmmaker Frédéric Rossif
. The album sleeve design is by Vangelis himself.
Vangelis produced this album during his electro-acoustic period, which was one of the most productive in his musical career. Opera Sauvage is more akin to his classic sound than his earlier nature scores for the same director, such as L'Apocalypse des animaux
and La Fête sauvage
. A later collaboration with Rossif in the style of Opéra sauvage was Sauvage et Beau.
The album became #42 in the Billboard top 200, and stayed in the charts for 39 weeks.
"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.
Vangelis plays several synthesizer
s, piano
, electric piano
(featured extensively on "Rêve"), drums, percussion, xylophone, and acoustic guitar ("Chromatique"). Jon Anderson is credited with playing harp
on "Flamants roses".
The music was recorded at Vangelis' Nemo Studios in London, U.K, in 1978 and 1979, with engineering by Keith Spencer-Allen, assisted by Marlis Duncklau and Raphael Preston.
by Peter Weir
.
"Hymne" was the tune of Barilla pasta commercials aired in Italy throughout the 1980s. It was also the tune of another commercial in the U.S.A, for Ernest & Julio Gallo
wines.
A documentary on the Chariots of Fire
special-edition DVD-video relates that director Hugh Hudson
intended to use the 7/4 piece "L'Enfant", which he was particularly fond of, as the opening titles over the first scene on the beach, until Vangelis talked him into letting him compose the now iconic theme. The director then had "L'Enfant" being played in the film by a brass band http://www.elsew.com/data/trivia.htm as incidental music. A re-recorded version of "Hymne" was used as the score cue for Eric Liddell
's first race in the Scottish highlands.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
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...
, of the score for the nature documentary by the same title by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
filmmaker Frédéric Rossif
Frédéric Rossif
Frédéric Rossif was a French film and television director who specialized primarily on documentaries, frequently using archive footage. Rossif's common themes included wildlife, 20th century history and contemporary artists...
. The album sleeve design is by Vangelis himself.
Vangelis produced this album during his electro-acoustic period, which was one of the most productive in his musical career. Opera Sauvage is more akin to his classic sound than his earlier nature scores for the same director, such as L'Apocalypse des animaux
L'Apocalypse des Animaux (album)
L'Apocalypse des animaux is a soundtrack album by Greek composer Vangelis. The album's music accompanied a documentary series about the animal kingdom directed by Frédéric Rossif that was first broadcasted on French TV in 1970.-Track listing:...
and La Fête sauvage
La Fête Sauvage
La Fête sauvage is an original score album, by Greek composer Vangelis , from the 1975 documentary, about animal wildlife, by Frédéric Rossif.-Overview:...
. A later collaboration with Rossif in the style of Opéra sauvage was Sauvage et Beau.
The album became #42 in the Billboard top 200, and stayed in the charts for 39 weeks.
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
"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
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
features prominently on harp.
Vangelis plays several synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, electric piano
Electric piano
An electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
(featured extensively on "Rêve"), drums, percussion, xylophone, and acoustic guitar ("Chromatique"). Jon Anderson is credited with playing harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
on "Flamants roses".
The music was recorded at Vangelis' Nemo Studios in London, U.K, in 1978 and 1979, with engineering by Keith Spencer-Allen, assisted by Marlis Duncklau and Raphael Preston.
Other appearances
"L'Enfant" was included in the soundtrack of the film The Year of Living DangerouslyThe Year of Living Dangerously
The Year of Living Dangerously is a 1982 Peter Weir film adapted from the novel The Year of Living Dangerously by the author Christopher Koch. The story is about a love affair set in Indonesia during the overthrow of President Sukarno...
by Peter Weir
Peter Weir
Peter Lindsay Weir, AM is an Australian film director. After playing a leading role in the Australian New Wave cinema with his films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films—many of them major box office...
.
"Hymne" was the tune of Barilla pasta commercials aired in Italy throughout the 1980s. It was also the tune of another commercial in the U.S.A, for Ernest & Julio Gallo
E & J Gallo Winery
E & J Gallo Winery was founded in 1933 by Ernest Gallo and Julio Gallo in Modesto, California. E & J Gallo Winery is the largest exporter of California wines and is a large promoter of wines from Sonoma County.-History:...
wines.
A documentary on the Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice....
special-edition DVD-video relates that director Hugh Hudson
Hugh Hudson
Hugh Hudson is an English film director. His best-known international success is the 1981 multiple Academy Award-winning film, Chariots of Fire.- Early life :...
intended to use the 7/4 piece "L'Enfant", which he was particularly fond of, as the opening titles over the first scene on the beach, until Vangelis talked him into letting him compose the now iconic theme. The director then had "L'Enfant" being played in the film by a brass band http://www.elsew.com/data/trivia.htm as incidental music. A re-recorded version of "Hymne" was used as the score cue for Eric Liddell
Eric Liddell
Eric Henry Liddell was a Scottish athlete, rugby union international player, and missionary.Liddell was the winner of the men's 400 metres at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris...
's first race in the Scottish highlands.