The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover [Original Soundtrack]

by Michael Nyman

Overview

For this, his seventh soundtrack for director Peter Greenaway, Nyman deftly orchestrates a mix of strings, horns, and voices to produce another of his fetching and romantic minimalist backdrops. The opening "Memorial" is the highlight of the lot and drives along with stuttering saxophones, an insistent string arrangement, elegiac brass solos, and the soaring vocals of soprano Sarah Leonard (Leonard would be featured on a large part of the Prospero's Books soundtrack). The piece was originally inspired by a 1985 Belgian soccer match tragedy, in which 39 Italian fans were killed. Nyman utilized a death march in his earlier Greenaway collaboration, Drowning by Numbers, and revives the scheme to great effect here for what would become the main theme of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover. Nyman contrasts the piece's climatic quality with two relatively sedate yet brooding numbers. There's also a rousing performance of his "Miserere" (performed by the London Voices choir) and a violin and piano paraphrase of the same piece to add to an already solid soundtrack. Nyman is again aided by his crack band, which includes such standouts as violinist Alexander Balanescu and tenor saxophonist John Harle. Along with the soundtracks to The Piano and Prospero's Books, this is an essential title in the Nyman catalog. ~ Stephen Cook

Product Details

Release Date:	04/05/2024
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031627211
Rank:	114212

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Michael Nyman   Primary Artist,Conductor,Piano
Alexander Balanescu   Primary Artist,Violin
London Voices   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Michael Nyman Band   Primary Artist
David Stewart   Trombone
Lesley Reid   Vocals
Geoffrey Shaw   Vocals
Terry Edwards   Vocals,Director
David Fuest   Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Paul Chapman   Soprano (Vocal)
Judith Rees   Vocals
Andy Findon   Sax (Baritone),Sax (Tenor),Flute
Tony Hinnigan   Cello
Chris Laurence   Double Bass
Elisabeth Perry   Violin
David Roach   Sax (Alto)
Sarah Leonard   Soprano (Vocal),Vocals
Jonathan Carney   Violin,Viola
Gareth Roberts   Vocals
John Harle   Sax (Alto),Sax (Soprano)
Sue Anderson   Vocals
Graham Ashton   Trumpet
Simon Davies   Vocals
Gordon Jones   Vocals

Technical Credits

Michael J. Dutton   Engineer
Dillon Gallagher   Assistant Engineer
Marsten Bailey   Assistant Engineer
Michael Nyman Band   Performer
Michael Nyman   Liner Notes,Performer,Composer
London Voices   Performer
Tim Hunt   Engineer
Michael J. Duffon   Engineer
David Cunningham   Producer
Alexander Balanescu   Performer