Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture Tár
Deutsche Grammophon, 2022
8/10
Listen to Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture Tár
A concept album of music from and inspired by the movie Tár, Hildur Guðnadóttir’s work is complemented by works of Elgar and Mahler, and mixes strings, brass, vocals and keys from some very exceptional players/ensembles.
“For Petra” starts the listen with a very expressive vocal piece, where Guðnadóttir’s stirring presence is quite alluring, and “Mortar” follows with the London Contemporary Orchestra’s mysterious, droning appeal alongside Guðnadóttir’s moody cello.
Further on, Mahler’s “Rehearsals” recruits the Dresdner Philharmonie and interjects talking parts from Cate Blanchett for the sometimes bare, other times booming delivery, while Elgar’s “Cello Concerto in E Minor” unfolds across 6 adventurous chapters that embraces Sophie Kauer’s stirring cello.
Further yet, J.S. Bach’s “Prelude in C Major BWV 846” pairs Blanchett’s swirling piano playing with dialogue from the movie, and “Cura Mente” exits with Elisa Vargas Fernandez’s stunning voice front and center on the very poetic finish.
A very well thought out listen, the project ends up relaying real-life versions of the music on which we see the fictional protagonist working, and serves to reveal something of the rehearsal and recording process of orchestral music-making. Even for those not familiar with the film, this is highly interesting.
Travels well with Víkingur Ólafsson- From Afar; Daniil Trifonov- BACH: The Art Of Life