Naxos'
Classics at the Movies series turns its attention to celluloid divas in the
Divas volume of the collection, featuring music from the film of the same name, Hilary and Jackie, Shine, and The Piano, among others. An excerpt from
Michael Nyman's piano concerto for the latter film begins the set, which continues with moments from Mozart's requiem. Pianists
Idil Biret and Bernd Glemser turn in spectacular performances of the
Chopin and
Rachmaninov pieces appearing in Shine, while the Joachim Trio performs
Ravel's "Modéré" with shimmering grace for the soundtrack to Un Cœur en Hiver. ~ Johnny Loftus