Dario Marianelli's Anna Karenina (2012)

[Maurizio 6,913]

Wonderful, wonderful score. Best of the year so far, in my book. Marianelli strikes back with another sumptuous, moving and mesmerizing film score. Lovely echoes of Shostakovich's Jazz Suites all around, but you can hear the single voice of a really talented composer with an impressive command of his skills.

This will be the score to beat at the upcoming Oscar night.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Jay 46,244]

I'm completely unfamiliar with Dario Marianelli, but I will check out this score based on the positive comments here.

I think this, Lincoln, Hobbit, and Argo are shoe-ins to win Oscar nominations. The 5th slot is wide open, though Fernando Velázquez's score to The Impossible is a strong contender.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Jay 46,244]

The new Ben Affleck movie scored by Alexandre Desplat

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Incanus 5,890]

After first listen the score sounds suitably Slavonic and also rather elegant but I missed truly emotionally appealing standout moments despite the singular sound Marianelli conjures up in this score. The rather refined and sumptous waltz and dance filled world isn't enough to raise this to my top 5 for this year. Perhaps a few listens more will change my view on this score.

[KK 3,313]

I'm completely unfamiliar with Dario Marianelli, but I will check out this score based on the positive comments here.

He's one of the best composers working out there right now. And he's one of my favourites too. Be sure to check out scores like Agora, Atonement, Jane Eyre, etc.

[Incanus 5,890]

I am happy to say that the subsequent listens have raised this score in my eyes. There is at the same time wonderful Slavonic feel and inevitable longing and melancholy in this music but also humor and irony as well, further enhanced by the colorful orchestrations. It is my experience that this is typical of Marianelli's music as far as I am concerned, winning me over gradually as it reveals further nuances on multiple listens. Same happened with Brothers Grimm, Agora, V for Vendetta and now with Anna Karenina.

[Maurizio 6,913]

I agree, subsequent listens reveal layers of beauty and subtle lovely nuances. This score is truly great, in my book.

[KK 3,313]

Its often the case with Marianelli. His work has a certain air of technical precision that prevents you from falling in love immediately (with exceptions of course like Atonement). Marianelli's great works often work multiple listens to grasp the beauty of it all. I remember finding Agora dull and unmemorable at first listen. Its now my favourite score from the man and its a powerful album. Same thing happened with Jane Eyre which I found myself emotionally distant with. Now it makes my heart break every time I heard it.

I pre-ordered the CD, but I'll download the mp3 album tonight.

[MSM 194]

I'm completely unfamiliar with Dario Marianelli, but I will check out this score based on the positive comments here.

He's one of the best composers working out there right now. And he's one of my favourites too. Be sure to check out scores like Agora, Atonement, Jane Eyre, etc.

I agree here. I can't stop playing this tune on the piano... It saved the movie:

[media=]

[crocodile 9,724]

Sounds good. I really like this guy. I own 6-7 discs of his music and they're all at least good. Jane Eyre was definitely one of the best of 2011 as well. And Atonement was actually quite a worthy Oscar win. I will be checking this out. Classy stuff.

I kind of wish he did something else than all those period dramas. I was listening to some bits of Brothers Grimm and I want him to do something like this again. Who is with me?

Karol

[Incanus 5,890]

Yes definitely something bigger in the fantasy/adventure department would certainly be welcome from Marianelli. If Brothers Grimm is any indication of his skill at writing a complex and compelling fantasy/action score then we would be in for a great stuff I believe.

[KK 3,313]

I kind of wish he did something else than all those period dramas. I was listening to some bits of Brothers Grimm and I want him to do something like this again. Who is with me?

Karol

Have you heard Agora? It's his best score.

Marianelli is quite good with period pieces, but his music for dark fantasies is where he truly excels. We first heard that kind of brutal orchestral work in Brothers Grimm and it was great. V for Vendetta was also an intelligent exercise in that style. But Agora is where his appealing romanticism and his larger scale orchestral work came together to piece a massively impressive work.

[crocodile 9,724]

I need to check it out then.

Karol

[Maurizio 6,913]

Check out my own interview with Dario about Anna Karenina:

http://www.colonnesonore.net/contenuti-speciali/interviste/2554-explorer-of-notes-dario-marianelli-and-qanna-kareninaq.html

[Incanus 5,890]

Fantastic Maurizio! I'll be delving into this later in full! Thank you for sharing!