Nocturne

Vangelis, the Greek musician born Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, is best-known for his soundtrack to the 1981 British film Chariots of Fire. The decision to use Vangelis’ music on this quintessentially English tale must have raised eyebrows at the time, but it proved to be an inspiring choice, with director Hugh Hudson eschewing an English pastoral style of music in favor of Vangelis’ synthesizers. Vangelis went on to have considerable success in the movie industry, most notably with director Ridley Scott on Blade Runner and 1492: Conquest of Paradise. But there have also been several solo albums and collaborations, such as with Yes lead singer Jon Anderson, as well as ballet and theater music. Released in January 2019, Vangelis’ album Nocturne includes new and old compositions arranged for and performed on the piano, and is inspired, in part, by its composer’s passion for space exploration.