Phenomenon Vangelis!

I am satisfied because this score has accomplished each one of my expectations. The themes are elaborated in such a way that you couldn't imagine a different way. Listening to the soundtrack you feel like making the journey of Alexander, each track "describes" a specific place or feeling and "travels" you there. However, having seen the movie several times, I've noticed that some music parts are not included in the cd. That is the only drawback though! Vangelis is a phenomenon!!! Enjoy the journey!

Simply Amazing Music!

This album is simply the best sound track! The music is splendid, rich, and deeply touching. I love both the movie and the music; every time I listen to the music, it brings the images of the epic battles and journey of Alexander immediately back to my mind and as if they are happending in front of my eyes.

Vangelis' own portrait of Alexander

There's no doubt, Vangelis is back at his best soundtracking days like in the time of Blade Runner, Chariots of Fire and 1492 - Conquest of Paradise. I finally got this album and I'm still at awe. It's just beautiful. The first time I heard it I cried almost the whole time! Because it is so intense. When I saw the movie I had already realized this: this isn't a soundtrack that blends in so much with the movie that you don't notice it (like The Lord of the Rings), this is actually one of those Hans Zimmer kind of soundtracks, that immediately stands out as a work of art on its own, independently from the movie.



The 3 introductory tracks - Introduction, Young Alexander and Titans - set the epic mood for the story and the album as well; they just stroke me like a lightning, they aim directly at one's heart.

The next theme is The Drums of Gaugamela and it's the song for the battle with the Persian army, and it is so evocative that I immediately thought of the Battle Symphony by Beethoven, because, like it happens on that composition, here the music drives in a crescendo until it reaches a point where the dramatic mood gives way to a glorious one, and that's where you can tell that the good guys - in this case, Alexander, in Beethoven's case, the english against the french - are finnally winning.

The tracks with oriental themes are absolutely awesome, rich with elegance and sensuality - Roxane's Dance and Bagoas' Dance are my personal favorites, they're the most exciting ones.

The album ends with a beautiful, sad, and calm theme, Tender Memories. It is a great ending for what has been a gigantic epic journey. These are the tracks that touched me enough to remember them now but obviously the album sounds better as a whole.



Actually, if you don't like the movie at all, you can still hear this album and build up your own idea of Alexander the Great and his life through these evocative soundscapes. It is indeed a portrait of him, on its own.