Search - Michael Legrand :: Umbrellas of Cherbourg

"Les Parapluies..." -- a modern masterpiece

Scott Weimer | Portland, OR United States | 08/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The movie "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" is beautiful, tender, and alive with vivid color; this complete soundtrack recording is no different. From the breathy tones of the opening flute solo all the way through to the stirring finale, evey nuance and texture of Michel Legrand's very colorful score is captured perfectly on this recording. If you're unfamiliar with the music from this movie, you may be surprised to discover a number of familiar melodies -- songs that have worked their way into today's jazz and adult contemporary music repetoire (most natoably "Watch What Happens" and "I Will Wait For You"). For me, the real treasure of this recording is the attention the engineers paid to capturing the cast members' singing voices. The French language comes across crystal-clear. And even if you don't speak or understand the language, the passion within each voice -- the rainbow of emotions given forth from the singers, matched perfectly with the sweeping score -- allows the listener to understand the emotinal gyst of what each character is expressing at that moment. And speaking of the cast -- simply amazing. My favorite moment (I can't accurately express why) is when Guy comes home to his aunt's apartment and he runs into her caretaker, Madeline. When they greet each other ("Bon soir Guy", "Bon soir Madeline"), there is such a "tender tension", an unspoken adoration, I practically melt each time.
What really makes this recording the ultimate for "Umbrellas" fans are the six bonus tracks. They are perfect examples of how this beautiful music is being re-interpreted into the jazz scene. Tony Bennett does a terrific turn with "Watch What Happens", and Michel Legrand himself takes to the piano and delivers an amazing 8-minute variation on "I Will Wait For You" -- you have to hear it to believe it!
And, by the way, if you don't have the video already in your collection, I would suggest purchasing it at the same time you're buying this CD. The movie has been restored to it's bright, vivid original color -- eye-popping!"

Fantastic Soundtrack

jumpy1 | 03/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It may be hard to track this one down, but it's entirely worth every penny. The music to this soundtrack is so beautiful, I know very little French, but it doesn't matter.This is also one of my favorite Films as well. If you haven't seen the film, rent it. There's nothing like it, it's beyond fantastic."

That's one of the CDs you juz had to have in your collection

Siew Yi Li | Singapore | 06/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This sountrack is simply beyond review. I first knew about it when one of my friends brought the DVD of the movie to the company.And then it was like magic: "I just have to get this soundtrack anyhow!!" I would suggest that it's better to get the DVD first. Knowing the movie will eventually help you to appreciate the sondtrack more coz it's more influential together with the story. I guess not many people know about this movie in my country and I'm grat that my friend helped me discovered this WONDERFUL CD."