Album Review: Cinema/ Nadia Piave
In her newest recording Cinema, chanteuse Nadia Piave brings the luscious music of European cinema right into the intimacy of your lounge room.
Accompanied variously by the piano, the guitar and violin, Nadia sings some of the most classic songs from European cinematic gems that represent the best in film direction and soundtracks. The 16 tracks contain music derived from movies that date back from the present to the early ‘50s and contain lashings of nostalgia.There is Nino Rota’s theme from Fellini’s Amarcord, Hadjidakis’ Ta Pedia tou Pirea (Never on a Sunday) in a more teasing vein than Melina Mercouri’s bubbling bouzouki-accompanied film version; Rota’s Come Live Your Life with Me from Coppola’s The Godfather and Georges Delerue’s L’Amour a 20 Ans from Truffaut’s film of the same name.
Paying homage to the classical roots of much cinema music, are Georges Auric’s Moulin des Amours from John Huston’s 1952 movie Moulin Rouge and Satie’s (whose composer’s group Les nouveaux jeunes were the forerunners of Auric’s Le Six) Gymnopedie whose theme is featured in Louis Malle’s My Dinner with Andre.
Cinema is a very worthy independently produced album. Nadia Piave is an accomplished and versatile singer who colours these songs with a palette of smoky hues. Her technical mastery allowing her to adapt her style to French, Italian, Greek and English songs. She sings with passion, anguish, wistfulness and yearning.
Whether or not you’re in love Cinema is a delightful 50 + minutes of relaxing entertainment. So, pour the Brunello, dim the lights, kick off your shoes and immerse yourself in the soothing sounds of Nadia’s voice.
Shamistha de Soysa for SoundsLikeSydney©
