The French Revolution

Composed and conducted by Georges Delerue

Peformed by The British Symphony Orchestra avec Choeurs

Original soundtracks from the movies directed by Robert Enrico and Richard Heffron in 1989

Cast : Klaus Maria Brandauer, Jane Seymour, François Cluzet, Jean-François Balmer, Andrej Seweryn, Marianne Basler, Sam Neill, Peter Ustinov

Release : March 2003

LIMITED EDITION OF 550  OUT OF PRINT

Les Films Ariane spared no expense when making these movies meant to mark the bicentenary of the French Revolution. Well acquainted with Georges Delerue, producer Alexandre Mnouchkine called on him to provide the music. Delerue was in his adopted California, and it was at a time when the composer sought to re-connect with his roots. Despite a tight deadline and having worked previously on a very similar assignment (Chouans! by Philippe de Broca), Delerue couldn't resist the opportunity to work on a production with such a noble theme, and which provided him with resources rivaling that of Hollywood's best. This 2 CD set contains the 94 minutes of music available on the two CDs first released separately by Polydor France, completely remastered for a spectacular sound and with a new visual presentation.

Disc 1 - Les Années Lumière (48:37)

01. Hymne à la liberté (3:51) - performed by Jessye Norman

02. Le lever du Roi (1:13)

03. Le Hameau de la Reine (1:05)

04. Ouverture des États généraux (1:06)

05. Premier appel révolutionnaire (1:30)

06. À la Bastille (1:23)

07. La prise de la Bastille (4:20)

08. La fête des Barricades (1:47)

09. L'abolition des privilèges (2:05)

10. Déclaration des droits de l'homme (4:45)

11. La marche des femmes (3:47)

12. La fête (2:30)

13. Fanfares suivi de Le Serment (1:42)

14. La mort de Mirabeau (0:56)

15. La fête du Champ de Mars (1:16)

16. Fersen et Marie-Antoinette (1:07)

17. La Reine et ses enfants (1:31)

18. L'ombre de la guerre (1:13)

19. Défaite des régiments français (2:27)

20. La Marseillaise (1:28)

21. La fin de la royauté (3:06)

22. Hymne à la Liberté - orchestral version (3:52)

Disc 2 - Les Années terribles (45:50)

01. Hymne à la liberté (3:51) - performed by Jessye Norman REPRISE

02. Le départ de la famille royale (1:09)

03. La Fayette (1:33)

04. Les Prussiens (1:07)

05. Folie et massacres (4:02)

06. Français contre Prussiens (2:52)

07. Saint-Just (1:00)

08. La tristesse du roi (2:16)

09. Le vote pour la mort du Roi (2:00)

10. La mort de Gabrielle (0:50

11. Marat (2:21)

12. Le destin de Marie-Antoinette (2:28)

13. Les exécutions (1:49)

14. Danton est de retour (1:38)

15. Le complot (2:18)

16. L'imprudence de Desmoulins (1:09)

17. L'exécution de Danton et Desmoulins (3:53)

18. La folie de Robespierre (1:10)

19. L'exécution de Robespierre (2:47)

20. Épilogue suivi de Hymne à la Liberté - orchestral version (4:56)

TT: 94:27

 

Andrew Keech - Music from the Movies, UK, No 37

Georges Delerue's score for the La Révolution française has a superb theme and almost equal shares of tragedy and glory. It is a riveting score throughout both albums and although not typical of the composer's lush, romantic work, it has his distinctive flowing style, making it a work of major stature.