Notes & Personnel Info |
 | Original score composed and performed by Vangelis. |
| Recorded at Nemo Studios, London, England. |
| Personnel: The Ambrosian Singers (vocals), Vangelis (various instruments). |
| Engineers: Raphael Preston, John Walker, Raine Shine. |
| Recorded at Nemo Studios, London, England. |
| All songs written by Vangelis except "Jerusalem" (Parry). |
| Composer: Vangelis. |
| Personnel: Vangelis (keyboards); Ambrosian Singers (vocals). |
| Recording information: Nemo STudios, London, England. |
| Actor: Ben Cross. |
| Directors: John McCarthy; Hugh Hudson. |
| Arrangers: Vangelis; Harry Rabinowitz. |
| While only serious film buffs are likely to recall Hugh Hudson's role as the director of the Oscar-winning CHARIOTS OF FIRE, the Greek composer Vangelis became, and remained, a household name with his soundtrack for the 1981 film. At the time, the theme song was parodied as being excessively saccharin. |
| Indeed, with titles such as "Five Rings" and "100 Metres," the album wears its Olympian heart on its sleeve. Nonetheless, CHARIOTS OF FIRE is often a brooding work, and if the prevailing memory of this album is one of slow-motion runners and heady triumph, Vangelis's synthesizer work often conveys a sense of isolation and lost glory. |
| Vangelis is one of the most famed composers of film music, and with 1492 he adds another superior soundtrack to a discography that includes such classics as CHARIOTS OF FIRE and BLADE RUNNER. The soundtrack to a film that recounts Christopher Columbus's journey and discovery of America, 1492 has all the grandeur and scope one would associate with the film's topic. As per usual, Vangelis employs various electric and acoustic elements, including synthesizer, live orchestra, and a choir. |
| The results are heard to fine effect on the swelling title track, on moody pieces like "Light and Dark," and on delicately atmospheric tracks like "Deliverance." The range of instrumental textures and colorations keeps the listening lively, and the album is sequenced in such a way that the pieces have a real continuity, merging from one to the next and creating the aural equivalent of Columbus's voyage. For all of its historic import and cinematic sweep, Vangelis's music is quite thoughtful and relaxing, and 1492 makes a fine selection for headphone listening and internal movie-making. |
Producer: David Puttnam; Vangelis |
Engineer: Dr. John Walker; Raphael Preston; John Walker; Raine Shine |
Musical Guests |
| Ambrosian Singers |
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