FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE DECCA SOUNDTRACK FOR THE EPIC DRAMA
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
FEATURES ORIGINAL MUSIC BY CRAIG ARMSTRONG AND A.R. RAHMAN
** IN STORES OCTOBER 9TH **
September 27, 2007 (New York, NY) - Decca Records announces the exciting October 9th release of the soundtrack for Elizabeth: The Golden Age featuring original score by Craig Armstrong and A.R. Rahman. The movie was directed by Shekar Kapur and welcomes back the Award-winning, star-studded cast from the first installment of the historical adventure including Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Clive Owen. The Universal Pictures film opens nationwide to theaters on October 12th.
Craig Armstrong and A.R. Rahman bring a dynamic collaboration to the score that complements this epic story. Rahman is reunited with director Shekar Kapur, with whom he worked on the Broadway musical, Bombay Dreams. His previous work includes a host of various Indian films, including composing for Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, which was nominated for an Academy Award® for Foreign Film. Mr. Rahman’s work has also accredited him with seven Filmfare Awards for his Music Direction and Background Score, as well as three Popular Awards and four Silver Lotus Awards, in similar categories.
Mr. Armstrong brings his mystifying and poignant composition experience, having worked on Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge, which he was awarded a Golden Globe® in the Best Original Score Motion Picture category. He also acquired a Grammy for his work on the score for Ray Charles biography, Ray. His score on The Quiet American gained a nomination for a World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written for a Film.
The music for The Golden Age is powerful and sentimental, and is as strong and vulnerable as Queen Elizabeth herself, making the collaborative score the perfect accompaniment to the film. It is mystical as it is melodic, and allows the listener to escape to the times and live through the scenes as if they were present in Elizabeth’s court.
Reprising the roles they originated in seven-time Academy Award®-nominated Elizabeth, Oscar-winner® Cate Blanchett (The Aviator) as Queen Elizabeth, Academy Award-winner® Geoffrey Rush (Shine) as Sir Francis Walsingham return for the gripping historical thriller laced with treachery and romance. Joining them is Academy Award® nominee Clive Owen (Closer) as Sir Walter Raleigh, a dashing seafarer and newfound temptation for Elizabeth. The film also stars Abbie Cornish as Elizabeth’s favorite lady-in-waiting, Bess and Academy Award® nominee Samantha Morton (In America, Sweet and Lowdown) as Elizabeth’s cousin Mary Stuart.
The Golden Age finds Queen Elizabeth I facing bloodlust for her throne and familial betrayal. Growing keenly aware of the changing religious and political tides of late 16th century Europe, Elizabeth finds her rule openly challenged by the Spanish King Philip II (Jordi Molla – with his powerful army and sea-dominating armada – determined to restore England to Catholicism.