Ulysses’ Gaze

ECM is, of course, known for covering many genres, but film soundtrack might not come readily to listeners’ minds. If asked to choose a representative example, I would unhesitatingly point to Ulysses’ Gaze. Greek composer Eleni Karaindrou’s music is more than incidental to the visuals of director Theo Angelopoulos; it is their heart turned into song. Even without seeing the film, one can picture the mist that pervades it in the airy strings, gut-wrenching viola of Kim Kashkashian, and plaintive oboe of Vangelis Christopoulos. Few albums have so beautifully captured the marriage of sight and sound.