Vangelis,
as a Academy Award winner composer, would you tell us what
inspires you when you compose your beautiful songs?
Vangelis
- Inspiration, as you call it, is a mystery and it's better if it
stays that way.
As
someone who started in Greece, how's the feeling to be globally
reconized by your work?
Vangelis
- Wherever I started from, what matters is the work.
This is what is appraised and not where it comes from.
Who are
your influences?
Vangelis
- Nature.
How was
the experience of working with Jon Anderson as the duo ''Jon and
Vangelis''?
Vangelis
- Most of the time I work alone. Thus, when I
collaborate with somebody else or when I compose the score for a
movie, it is an opportunity for a change.
About
the amazing piece of art Chariots of Fire, please tell us how was
the process to create it and the sensation to win the Academy
Award for Original Music Score.
Vangelis
- As was everyone, when I saw the opening scene I was
enthusiastic, although Hugh Hudson had already chosen and used
another piece of my music, specifically '' L'Enfant ''
from the album Opera Sauvage. Hugh felt this piece fit perfectly
and there was no need for other music for the opening scene. So,
even though I had a strong feeling to write something new and
much more appropriate, it seemed the issue had already been
closed. In spite of this, I wrote the theme we all know, and at
the last moment, when the remaining music was completed and we
needed to lock the picture, I gave it to Hugh Hudson asking him
to synchronize it with the opening scene. I told him that, if he
considered the new theme to be better, he could use it and if not
to use what he at first had in mind. Fortunately, he made the
right choice. I can't say that I expected to win the Oscar and
maybe that's why I didn't have any great anxiety. That same night
in London, I was celebrating my birthday with some close friends
over a nice dinner. After I blew out the candles, we continued
with a few more drinks and later I went to bed. Around 4 in the
morning, due to the time difference between LA and London, a dear
friend called me from New York and woke me up screaming ''You got
it!''
When we
hear Conquest of Paradise, it's impossible not to feel emotioned,
it's indescribable, really touches our soul. When you create such
an amazing sound, do you feel this way too?
Vangelis
- I felt and feel the same emotions you describe.
Do you
plan on coming to Brazil someday?
Vangelis
- I always wanted to visit your country, but unfortunately, I
have not managed to do so yet. I hope that in the future I will
make it and enjoy Brazil's beauty and above all, your wonderful
music.
Did you
imagine you could have brazilian fans?
Vangelis
- Is your question based on factors of distance, or taste?
What
would you do if you weren't this amazing musician?
Vangelis
- First of all, thank you for the ''amazing'' remark.
Now to answer your question, I would say I'd be a painter.
How's
the feeling of performing live?
Vangelis
- Not always comfortable. I prefer to work and create
without showing off.
You turn
abstract sounds into pieces of art that can reach any human
being's soul. When the idea of a song come to your mind, do you
go play it at the same moment or do you keep it until more ideas
came out and then put all them together and create something?
Vangelis
- What I play first, this is the final result.
Have you
reached the top of your dreams or do you still have any to
realize?
Vangelis
- The end of my dreams, definitely not. I have a long way to go
still.
We have
this idea, that mr. Vangelis can extract sound from anything.
We've already heard so many instruments in your songs.. and each
instrument reach a part of our feeling that we don't even knew it
was there. How did you discover this capacity in your life, that
you could do it?
Vangelis
- Perhaps because I started dabbling in music at the age of four
and so I remain free, without restrictions, to this day.
Mr.
Vangelis, as we know, this year is the 25th anniversary of Blade
Runner release. Please, tell us about this great work you did in
a partnership with Ridley Scott.
Vangelis
- Blade Runner is a prophetic film that when I see
today, after 25 years, I feel the same pleasure I was feeling at
the time I was composing its score.
Do you
regret about anything in your career?
Vangelis
- Yes. That I have yet to create things that I could have created
by now.
