Original Score Oscar Contenders Are a Global and Innovative Mix
This year's Oscar nominees for Best Original Score showcase a diverse and boundary-pushing group of composers. Notably, two musicals, "Emilia Pérez" and "Wicked," have garnered nominations, marking the first such recognition in over 25 years.
Among the nominees are three previous Oscar winners: German composer Volker Bertelmann ("All Quiet on the Western Front"), American composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz (three wins for animated musicals), and American composer Kris Bowers (awarded for a music-themed documentary short, "The Last Repair Shop").
Three composers are making their first Oscar nominations: Englishman Daniel Blumberg and French composers Camille and Clément Ducol.
Innovative Approaches to Scoring
* "The Brutalist": Blumberg's experimental score for Brady Corbet's film features a small orchestra of 18 musicians recorded across Europe, highlighting the intimacy of a pianist's performance.
* "Conclave": Bertelmann's music for Edward Berger's thriller eschews traditional church sounds, instead employing eerie string figures, prepared piano, and the unique textures of the Cristal Baschet.
* "Emilia Pérez": Jacques Audiard's operatic crime drama relies heavily on music, including original songs and a dramatic score infused with vocal sounds from singer-songwriter Camille and contributions from the Ducol brothers.
* "Wicked": Schwartz and English composer John Powell collaborated on a lavish score for the film adaptation of Schwartz's hit Broadway musical, featuring an 85-piece orchestra and a 60-voice choir.
* "The Wild Robot": Bowers' orchestral score for Chris Sanders' animated film about a parenting robot emphasizes emotional moments, incorporating organic sounds from a New York percussion ensemble.