Opéra Sauvage
Soundtrack album by
Vangelis
Released1979
Recorded1978-79
StudioNemo Studios, London[1]
GenreElectronic[2]
Length43:06
LabelPolydor
ProducerVangelis
Vangelis chronology
Odes
(1979)		 Opéra Sauvage
(1979)		 See You Later
(1980)
Singles from Opéra Sauvage
  1. "Hymne"
    Released: 1979
  2. "L'Enfant"
    Released: 1979

Opéra Sauvage is a soundtrack album by the Greek electronic composer Vangelis, released in 1979. It is the score for the nature documentary of the same title by French filmmaker Frédéric Rossif. It is considered one of Vangelis' best albums, and is his second most successful album in the USA, reaching #42 in the album charts.[1]

Overview

Vangelis produced this album during his electro-acoustic period, which was one of the most productive in his musical career. Opéra Sauvage is more akin to his classic sound than his earlier nature scores for the same director, Frédéric Rossif, 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.[3]

"Hymne" was re-recorded in choral version for the 1991 Eureka concert by Vangelis in Rotterdam.[4]

Release

The album reached #42 in the Billboard 200, and stayed in the charts for 39 weeks.[5]

Instrumentation

Vangelis plays several synthesizers, piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano (featured extensively on "Rêve"),[6] drums, percussion, xylophone, as well as acoustic & bass guitar ("Chromatique"). Jon Anderson is credited with playing harp on "Flamants Roses".[1]

Composition

The album is full of classical-based and warm melodies, orchestrated with Yamaha CS-80 sounds.[6] "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 with the hint of jazz in the climax. "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.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]

In the Allmusic review it is described as "rich, electronic orchestrations range from grandly symphonic to simple and serene", and as an "excellent introduction to his music".[2]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Hymne"2:40
2."Rêve"12:26
3."L'Enfant"4:57
4."Mouettes"2:28
5."Chromatique"3:25
6."Irlande"4:43
7."Flamants Roses"11:50

Personnel

Production
  • Vangelis – producer, arranger, artwork and cover design
  • Keith Spencer-Allen, Raphael Preston, Marlis Duncklau – engineers
  • Raphael Preston, Marlis Duncklau – assistant engineers
  • Hitoshi Takiguchi – mastering engineer
  • Veronique Skawinska – photography
  • Tokiwa Kinoshita – art coordinator
  • Minoru Harada – product manager

Other appearances

Charts

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rediscovered Gem – Opéra Sauvage". uDiscover. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Allmusic review
  3. ↑ Griffin 1997, p. 19.
  4. 1 2 Griffin 1997, p. 43.
  5. ↑ "Vangelis Chart History - Billboard 200 chart". Billboard. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Vangelis – Opera Sauvage". Synthtopia. 22 November 2003. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  7. ↑ Griffin 1997, p. 43, 66.
  8. ↑ "Archivio Storico Barilla - Spot "Gattino" 1986". Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  9. ↑ "Vangelis Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
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