Broken Embraces () is the soundtrack album to the 2009 Spanish romantic drama film of the same name directed by Pedro Almodóvar starring Penélope Cruz and Lluís Homar. The album consisted of the film score composed by Alberto Iglesias, and was released through EMI and Parlophone on 11 August 2009.
Background Broken Embraces is the sixth collaboration between Almodóvar and Iglesias. The score utilizes Spanish jazz elements with the use of electric guitar in the noir sequences and flamenco piano, highlighting the jazz structure. Spanish flamenco singer Miguel Poveda had performed vocals for few songs of the film. He accepted the offer, as he was in contact with the composer; Poveda recalled that Almodóvar had decided the music to be intense and elegant, which Iglesias followed. The singer also worked with the composer at his studio and the song "A Ciegas" was featured in the film.
Reception Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter wrote the "score by longtime collaborator Alberto Iglesias evokes the many movies the director embraces in Broken Embraces." Omar Moore of RogerEbert.com wrote "beautiful music score". Jonathan Holland of Variety wrote "Iglesias superbly evokes the moods and movies Embraces is so in thrall to." Adrian Edwards of Gramophone wrote, "Broken Embraces – or, to give the film its Spanish title, Los abrazos rotos – is a compelling soundtrack to relish."
Eric Calderwood of Paste called it a "haunting" score. Robert Barry of The Quietus wrote "Alberto Iglesias's music recalls neo-noirs like The Last Seduction". Jake Coyle of Today called it a "sensuous score". Amy Biancolli of SFGate wrote "Alberto Iglesias' score mutters and swells, portending sexy doom in minor keys [adding] up to an entertaining combination of suspense and melodrama." Critic based at Santa Barbara Independent wrote "a musical score of uncommon, cliché-free grace is supplied by the director's right-hand composer, Alberto Iglesias." Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com wrote Iglesias's score "carries conscious echoes of the vortex of strings Bernard Herrmann created for Vertigo."
Track listing
Accolades +List of awards and nominationsYear Award Category Recipients and nominees Result 2009European Film Awards Best Composer Alberto Iglesias 2010Goya Awards Best Original Score Alberto Iglesias
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes:
Music composer, director, producer, conductor and concertmaster – Alberto Iglesias Co-producer – Javier Casado Concertmaster – Perry Montague-Mason Music coordinator – Ana Eusa, Javier Martín Orchestra contractor – Charlotte Matthews Recording, mixing and programming – José Luis Crespo Assistant mixing – Carlos Alberich, Carlos Del Río Music editor, assistant composer and copyist – David Cerrejón Score technical engineer – Chris Barrett, Laurence Greed Liner notes – Alberto Iglesias Instruments Cello, violoncello – Anton Gakkel Double bass – Chris Laurence, Pablo Martín Electric guitar – Javier Crespo Harp – Skaila Kanga Kora – Samba Hamari Sy, Male, Maya Jobarteh Piano – Javier Casado Solo violin – Ara Malikian Tenor saxophone, duduk – Martin Robertson Viola – Julia Málkova, Peter Lale Violin – Egor Vasilenko, Laurentin Gregoresko, Laurentiu Gregoresko, Perry Montague-Mason
References