Les Parapluies de Cherbourg [Sony]

• Artist: Michel Legrand
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1996
• Total Time: 116:59
• Type: Soundtrack
• Genre: Soundtrack

Review

Michel Legrand's abundantly lyrical soundtrack to Jacques Demy's 1964 movie musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg faithfully evokes the film's predominant theme of young love foiled by adult reality. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg's overriding melancholia finds a voice in two main melodic motifs Legrand uses throughout the soundtrack, the first from the Legrand jazz standard "Watch What Happens" and the second from his song "I Will Wait for You." Legrand's considerable arranging abilities are on display here as he works the recurring themes through a variety of settings: tragic duets cloaked in dramatic string passages, broken-down cabaret soliloquies, and even a tango piece à la Astor Piazzolla. A prevalent jazz waltz theme also seesaws its way through the score, providing a break from the gloom. As with his later Demy soundtrack, The Young Girls of Rochefort, Legrand does integrate jazz into the mix, but not in such pervasive fashion; occasional big-band outbursts and light jazz backgrounds ultimately take a back seat to Legrand's preferred chanson mode. Combining Debussy's opaque melodies and Richard Rodgers song economy, he transforms the whimsical French song of Piaf and Trenet into petite arias. For Legrand it comes down to the song, and there are plenty of good ones on The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. If that were not enough, the double-CD reissue also includes bonus tracks: a not so whimsical yet affecting Tony Bennett reading of "Watch What Happens" and a demonstration of Legrand's well-known jazz skills on trio, "I Will Wait for You," with big-band arrangements. With over two hours of music, extra material, and some of the most charming melodies written for the screen, this Sony Classical reissue is a must-have for Legrand fans and certainly one of his essential works. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Générique [Instrumental]	Michel Legrand		(2:12)
Scene du Garage	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel	(2:50)
Devant le Magasin	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Jose Bartel, Danielle Licari, Guy Bartel	(1:42)
Chez Tante Elise	Michel Legrand	Claudine Meunier, Jose Bartel, Claire Leclerc	(2:32)
Dans la Rue	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Jose Bartel, Danielle Licari	(:35)
Au Dancing	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel, Danielle Licari	(1:57)
Sur le Quali	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel, Danielle Licari	(1:55)
Dans le Magasin de Parapluies	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Danielle Licari	(5:25)
Chez Dubourg, le Joaillier	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Marc Michel, Danielle Licari, Georges Blanes	(4:12)
Dans le Magasin	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Marc Michel, Danielle Licari, Georges Blanes	(3:20)
Devant le Garage	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel, Danielle Licari	(4:55)
Chez Elise	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel, Claire Leclerc	(1:42)
A L'Appartement	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Danielle Licari	(2:49)
Adieux a Elise	Michel Legrand	Claudine Meunier, Jose Bartel, Claire Leclerc, Claire Meunier	(1:51)
La Gare (Guy S'En Van)	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel, Danielle Licari	(2:26)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Dans le Magasin	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Danielle Licari	(4:53)
Le Diner	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Danielle Licari, Georges Blanes	(4:33)
Recit de Cassard	Michel Legrand	Georges Blanes	(3:41)
La Lettre de Guy	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel	(1:58)
Le Carnaval	Michel Legrand	Christiane Legrand, Danielle Licari	(7:58)
Le Mariage	Michel Legrand		(1:04)
Retour de Guy [Instrumental]	Michel Legrand		(:43)
Chez Elise	Michel Legrand	Claudine Meunier, Jose Bartel, Claire Leclerc	(4:18)
Le Garage (Dispute)	Michel Legrand	Jacques Demy, Jose Bartel, Jean Champion	(1:55)
Guy au Cafe'	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel	(1:46)
La Boite a Matelots	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel	(3:14)
Duo Guy/Madeleine	Michel Legrand	Claudine Meunier, Jose Bartel	(2:07)
La Terrasse du Cafe'	Michel Legrand	Claudine Meunier, Jose Bartel	(3:08)
La Station-Service	Michel Legrand	Claudine Meunier, Jose Bartel	(2:04)
Final	Michel Legrand	Jose Bartel, Danielle Licari	(5:03)
Watch What Happens [*]	Michel Legrand, Jacques Demy, Norman Gimbel	Tony Bennett, Will Bronson Singers, Ralph Sharon Trio	(2:58)
I Will Wait for You (Je Ne Pourrai Jamais Vivre Sans Toi) [Trio Version	Michel Legrand, Jacques Demy, Norman Gimbel	Michel Legrand, André Ceccarelli, Marc-Michel LeBevillon	(7:49)
Chez Dubourg, le Joaillier [*]	Michel Legrand		(1:42)
Chez Tante Elise [*]	Michel Legrand		(3:07)
Recit de Cassard [*]	Michel Legrand		(3:20)
I Will Wait for You (Je Ne Pourrai Jamais Vivre Sans Toi) [Version Big]	Michel Legrand, Jacques Demy, Norman Gimbel	Stephane Belmondo, Denis Leloup, Herve Mechinet, Francois Theberge, Michel Legrand Big Band	(9:12)

Credits

Tony Bennett (?), Michel Legrand (Piano), Michel Legrand (Trombone), Michel Legrand (Director), Michel Legrand (Vocals), Michel Legrand (Engineer), Michel Legrand (Art Direction), Michel Legrand (Concept), Michel Legrand (Concept Design), Ralph Sharon (Band), André Ceccarelli (Drums), Stephane Belmondo (Bugle), The Will Bronson Chorus (Vocals), Don Costa (Arranger), Jacques Demy (Vocals), Jacques Demy (Liner Notes), Claude Ermelin (Engineer), Norman Gimbel (Vocals), Marc-Michel LeBevillon (Performer), Christiane Legrand (Performer), Denis Leloup (Trombone), Claudine Meunier (Vocals), Marc Michel (Performer), Pierre Fatosme (Engineer), Herve Mechinet (Performer), Rodolphe Sanguinetti (Mixing), Francois Theberge (Sax (Tenor)), Michel Legrand Big Band (Performer), Will Bronson Singers (Performer), Ralph Sharon Trio (Performer), Jose Bartel (Vocals), Danielle Licari (Vocals), Jean Champion (Performer), Claire Leclerc (Vocals), Georges Blanes (Vocals), Guy Bartel (Performer), Jean-Michel Pou-Dubois (Engineer), Stéphane Lerouge (Liner Notes), Stéphane Lerouge (Art Direction), Stéphane Lerouge (Concept), Stéphane Lerouge (Concept Design)