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|  | |  | | | The Pianist: Music from the Motion Picture
(Audio CD)
by Janusz Olejniczak | | SKU:
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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | Roman Polanski's telling of famed Polish composer-pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman's survival in the Nazi-controlled Warsaw ghetto can't help but be infused with the director's deepest passions: he himself escaped the Kraków ghetto as a boy of 7. The musician's status as a musical hero to the oppressed Polish Jews of World War II was surpassed only by that of Chopin, the composer who was at the core of Szpilman's repertoire. Thus this score revolves tightly around Chopin's music, with modern Polish pianist Janusz Olejniczak paying passionate homage to both his musical and national forebears, the haunting strains of the Nocturne in C-sharp Minor setting the film's historical and dramatic tone. The underscore of previous Polanski collaborator Wojciech Kilar (The Ninth Gate, Death and the Maiden) is represented here by the soulful "Moving to the Ghetto," a cue that helps anchor the soundtrack's troubling time and place with understated grace. The collection concludes with a rare, remastered performance of Chopin's Mazurka Op. 17, No.4 by Szpilman himself, recorded in Warsaw in 1948. --Jerry McCulley | | | |
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| | Product Details | | Audio CD Release Date: | November 26, 2002 | | Studio: | Sony | | Number Of Discs: | 1 | | Format: | Soundtrack | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 36 reviews |
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| | Track Listing | | 1. | Nocturne in C-Sharp minor (1830) | | 2. | Nocturne in E minor, Op. 72, No. 1 | | 3. | Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48, No. 1 | | 4. | Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38 | | 5. | Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 | | 6. | Waltz No. 3 in A minor, Op. 34, No. 2 | | 7. | Prilude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4 | | 8. | Grande Polonaise for Piano and Orchestra (preceded by an Andante Spianato), Op. 22 | | 9. | Andante spianato in G Major | | 10. | Grande Polonaise in E-flat Major | | 11. | Moving to the Ghetto Oct. 31, 1940 | | 12. | Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17, No. 4 | |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review:
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 Why 'Moving to the Ghetto' is essential to include Mar 29, 2008
I believe that without the inclusion of Moving to the Ghetto, this would mostly be a beautiful collection of fine but isolated Chopin performances and not a soundtrack. Moving to the Getto reminds listeners to hear the performances of these gorgeous works within the context of the horrors of the times -- making for a completely different take on Chopin -- and this track is indispensable to have these individual pieces hang together as a meaningful whole. Ghetto is subtly and tactfully done, and I feel the producers made the right decision to include it. It's heartbreaking to think of such beauty being played amid the setting of such brutal and inhuman squalor. Psychologist Michael Frankl wrote "Man's Search for Meaning" after surviving his own ordeal under the Nazi madness, and his book tells a great deal why some people survived - those who had any chance at all - and those who didn't. It's amazing that man can sink so low and yet when spiritually attuned, can soar to the heights.
A Masterpiece Oct 10, 2007
This US version of the original movie soundtrack of Polanski's "The Pianist" which portrays Wladyslaw Szpilman's will to survive against the evil of holocaust through his music.
Whilst the music of Chopin and others makes an excellent score for the mood of the movie (Janusz Olejniczak plays superbly on the piano), one is left in stunned silence throughout at the injustice and horror that could ever have happened to humankind and tears will only start rolling when the movie ends on the triumphant note of Grand Polonaise brillante preceded by an Andante spianato Op.22 jolting you out of your helpless anguish to applaud in standing ovation with the audience on screen. Get this CD, enjoy the exquisite music and relive the poignant scenes. You won't regret it.
The Pianist: music from the motion picture Sep 22, 2007
This CD " The Pianist " was recieved within 7 days in good order and condition. I was unable to obtain it in Australia. I was able to find it quickly and it was well illustrated so that I was sure that I was ordering the cd that I wanted.I also found a cd of the pianist himself who the film "The Pianist" was about . I also ordered that and recieved it with the same prompt, efficient service.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Marvellous! Feb 10, 2006
While being very familiar with the Holocaust and F. Chopin's work, I have to admit I had no idea who Wladyslaw Szpilman was. After watching Polanski's masterpiece of a movie, I'm glad that I got to know the life of a man who went through hell and managed to survive thanks to the courage and strength given to him by Chopin's music that he constantly played in his head under surreal circumstances.
"The Pianist" music soundtrack is a wonderful collection of Chopin's piano works. Of course a few masterpieces of the polish great composer have been left out, but I think that's more than understable. After all, Polanski needed certain pieces that connected best with some of the images and scenes of his movie. And in the end we all agree that he certainly pulled it off.
Before watching the movie, I didn't know who Janusz Olejniczak was either. Now I do. His Chopin is really marvellous, especially the "Nocturne in C-sharp Minor", "La grande Polonaise brillante" and "Nocturne in E Minor Op. 72 No 1". Getting to know Olejniczak's Chopin is yet another reason to be thankful to Polanski.
Absolutely beautiful Jan 29, 2006
While not versed in the finer aspects of classical music or their composers as other reviewers on this page are, I like to think of myself as someone who appreciates classical music and the Pianist soundtrack is classical music at its best.
Being half-Polish, I heard of Frederic Chopin through the years but was never told of him or his beautiful - if somewhat sad - music (I learned much about Beethoven, my favorite composer, though). I was cheated but feel that I have caught up for lost time with this soundtrack.
My favorite track is "Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1." It's four and a half minutes of pure bliss. Kudos to Janusz Olejniczak for playing beyond beautiful piano (he's not a concert pianist for no reason, eh?).
The Pianist is one of the best movie soundtracks of all time. The movie was powerful (unlike *other* directors who made Holocaust films, Roman actually lived through that black period in human history, making it a cut above the rest), the book was moving and the soundtrack is great relaxation.
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