Jean de Florette

I always find it annoying when they peddle classical compilations based on bits of music heard in adverts, it always strikes me as just a bit tacky. It was much to my annoyance when I discovered that I recognised the main theme from Jean de Florette on listening to this album when I realised it was from an advert for a well known brand of beer. That having been said, the use in the advert was actually quite good, although I'm sure if Verdi was alive, he'd be rolling in his grave. Indeed, the famous theme is adapted from a theme by Verdi, Il Forza del Destino (The Force of Destiny, presumably) which is somewhat disappointing. I seem to have acquired several Petit scores recently and none impressed me much and this one I found very much superior to the others, mainly because of the wonderful main theme, discovering it's not even by him came as something as a disappointment.

Having said all that, the rest of Petit's music is extremely good. I couldn't say whether the rest is inspired by Verdi in any way, but the main theme doesn't really appear that often. The general feeling is very classical and I can imagine much of the score being quite suitable for interludes between arias in an opera. While much of the mood is somewhat sultry and emotive, there are a few perky moments such as the jaunty L'Arrivee and Les Graines, but generally Petit keeps things low key. A couple of moments remind me of Nino Rota's Fellini scores, but only in a cursory way.

If you enjoy your scores with a European flavour, this will come as a welcome treat, Silva Screen having remastered the music for excellent sound quality. I suspect if you're expecting something sweeping then you'll be disappointed, but this gentle score is still a minor treasure well worth anyone's money.