The Bottom Line
Once serving as the musical backdrop to several films, the works on this album have taken center stage. With delicate melodies, lush orchestrations, and stirring rhythms, you'll no doubt fall in love with Glass's music, especially as it is performed by Angele Dubeau & La Pieta.
Pros
- Warm orchestrations with great depth and weight
- Soothing, yet delightfully provocative
- Music is never static; always expounding on the theme or idea
Cons
- The overall tone/theme of the album is the same from the beginning to end, without much variation
Description
- Released: October 2008
- 1 Disk, 15 Tracks
- Total Play Time: Roughly 1 Hour
Guide Review - Philip Glass: Portrait
Angele Dubeau & La Pieta's Potrait opens with the overture from Glass's multimedia opera La Belle et la Bete (1994) arranged for string orchestra by one of Glass's closest collaborators since 1974, Michael Riesman. The rich orchestration and dramatic fluidity of the music sets the tone for the rest of the album. Riesman also arranged the works The Secret Agent, The Hours Suite, and Closing found later on the album. Following the the overture is The Hours Suite; a beautiful work for orchestra and piano composed for the film starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman. Its sombre sound makes for a calm and reflective atmosphere. Also on the album is Glass's Mishima, which was initially used for a film titled Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters in 1984. The work's inherent rhythmic monotony is balanced by lyrical melodies and beautiful harmonies. Throughout Portrait, you'll notice the impeccable performances by Angele Dubeau & La Pieta. Formed in 1997, La Pieta is a group of outstanding female musicians from all over Canada.
