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Hirschfelder would be nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his efforts in Shine (losing in both cases to Gabriel Yared's The English Patient), though his actual contribution of original underscore is easily dwarfed by the well known classical pieces arranged and performed specifically for the film. The majority of running time in the film is occupied by the classical works, many of which the most difficult pieces in the world to play, and Helfgott's performances are often accompanied by a moderate orchestra. There are several moments when the solo piano is put on display (forcing actor Geoffrey Rush to enact some challenging "keyboard acting" in the picture), and for fans of classical piano works, these performances will cause you to hush others in the room (much like the restaurants in which Helfgott performed). One of the keys to Shine's success was the fact that Hirschfelder (along with conductor Ricky Edwards) rearranged the classical works so that they could often flow seamlessly throughout original underscore cues. As you would expect, Hirschfelder's 30 minutes or so of underscore is piano-centered, often accompanied by whimsical strings and/or harp. His melodic, lyrical cues are often hopeful and uplifting, representing Helfgott's dreams and imagination. The score takes a dark turn, however, when his father is makes his ultimatums, with Hirschfelder pounding in the deep lower ranges of the piano. Additionally, the mental breakdown sequences (in "The Rach. 3" and "Complicato in Israel") are punctuated with broad electronic droning effects, sometimes mixed into the middle of a Rachmaninoff statement, providing an excellent sensation in the film, but a disjointed one on album. Apart from the film, the Shine score, which also includes a few sound effects and character vocals throughout, is really a souvenir for viewers of the film. Fans of masterful performances of the hardest classical (and 20th Century) piano works will enjoy the plentiful collection of appropriate pieces. For listeners unfamiliar with the film (or for those for whom the piano is an annoyance), there will be little connection between the pieces, and the album could become quite tedious. A remarkable effort in context, but highly targeted in its audience.  ***   @Amazon.com: CD or Download

Total Time: 64:05