Portuguese composer Nuno Malo has written an incredibly moving orchestral score for Amália, a dramatic portrayal of one of Portugal's most famous musical personalities - Fado legend Amália Rodriguez. Amália is a very romantic, beautiful score where Malo's rich string writing forms the backbone of the music. Also included on the album are two versions of 'Lament: Fado Dos Meus Erros' - the main theme of the score one version of which features a cello solo by Tina Guo...

Nuno Malo's soundtrack to Amália will be welcomed warmly by lovers of classical scores. On balance this feels more like a well worked composition that has taken years to put together - the labour of love of a classical composer, rather than the soundtrack to a movie.

Every single track on this album brings forth strong emotions - this is my kind of soundtrack and is certainly one that I'll be listening to for a long time to come.

Highlights include the two versions of 'Lament: Fado Dos Meus Erros'; 'The Death of Aninha'; 'Making Love / The Beating / The Collapse'; 'Trashed Poem'; 'The Girl from Israel'; and the incredibly beautiful 'Amália: The Ending' - all of which have incredibly powerful central themes.

The only track that felt a little out of place, but is still enjoyable, is 'Cesar's Theme'. This feels like a cross between a track from an early Sims game and a Vince Guaraldi score from the Peanuts animated show.

This is a soundtrack that rests on the borders of being both a wonderful soundtrack as well as an incredibly strong collection of classical music in it's own right. This is a beautiful, classical score that is well worth owning.

10

Darren Rea