A magnificent epic poem by a master.
This is one of Maurice Jarre's masterpieces, and features a 110-piece orchestra with 24 balalaikas, creating a profound sound image.
In the globally beloved "Lara's Theme," a balalaika ensemble performed by musicians from the Russian Orthodox Church in Los Angeles intertwines with strings to accentuate the emotional impact. Maurice Jarre's intricate score, featuring a multi-layered composition incorporating koto, shamisen, and the then-recently developed Moog synthesizer, as well as a large-scale recording featuring a 40-person choir, made full use of 20 microphones, combines the grandeur of an epic poem with personal love and hate, making this a treasure that will remain in the history of soundtracks.
