JANE AUSTEN’S CLASSIC TALE OF ROMANCE AND WIT

PRIDE & PREJUDICE FEATURING ORIGINAL MUSIC BY DARIO MARIANELLI

WITH PERFORMANCES BY ACCLAIMED PIANIST AND DECCA RECORDING ARTIST JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET

**SOUNDTRACK TO BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 8TH ON DECCA**

(October 5th, 2005- New York, NY)- The glorious world of Jane Austen is at last brought back to the big screen in all its romance, wit, and emotional force in Pride & Prejudice, which Focus Features releases in theaters this holiday season. Directed by Joe Wright, the classic tale of love and misunderstanding unfolds in class-conscious England near the close of the 18th century. The soundtrack features an original score by Italian-born composer Dario Marianelli (The Brothers Grimm) with performances by Decca artist and French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and will be released on November 8th on Decca.

The hauntingly beautiful and mesmerizing soundtrack exudes a feeling of empowering romanticism coupled with great emotional suspense builders. Music is an integral part of the film, with the main piano theme used as both background music and as source music when one of the characters plays the instrument on-screen. “Darcy’s Letter” and “Leaving Netherfield” put forth a somber feeling, while “Meryton Townhall” is an uplifting jig providing a sense of whimsy present in the personalities of the film’s younger characters. Weaving piano melodies into the sweeping score enhances the beautiful cinematography and sweep of the love stories. In addition to the piano theme, Marianelli has also reworked the popular Rondeau from Purcell’s Abdelazer to depict the dance scenes, and the overall effect fully complements the touching on-screen action.

Adding his rich piano playing to the score, Jean-Yves Thibaudet began his musical studies in France at the tender age of 5. At age 12, he entered the Paris Conservatory where he studied with Aldo Ciccolini and Lucette Descaves, a friend and collaborator of Ravel. At age 15, Thibaudet won the premier Prix du Conservatoire, and three years later he won the Young Concert Artists Auditions in New York. In 2001, the Republic of France awarded him the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2002, Jean-Yves was awarded the Premio Pegasus from the Spoleto Festival for his artistic achievements and his longstanding involvement with the festival. The French pianist has received much praise from the press; The New York Times stated “…the joy, brilliance and musicality of his performance could not be missed,” while The Los Angeles Times was quoted as saying he is a “virtuoso with pronounced and admirable musical depth.”

Dario Marianelli has been composing music for films for about ten years. Born in Pisa, he studied piano and composition in Florence and London. After a year as postgraduate composer at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he received a scholarship from the Gulbenkian Foundation for a course held on the subject of Composition and Choreography. Other scholarships allowed him to go to Germany for a series of workshops on European Film Music. He spent three years at the National Film and Television School, from which he graduated in 1997. His credits include scoring the BAFTA Award-winning In This World and The Warrior. Over the last few years, Dario has written music for several feature films, TV dramas, documentaries, animations, theatre, contemporary dance and concerts. Most recently he scored the music for The Brothers Grimm.

Faithful to the setting and the period of the beloved novel and filmed entirely on location in the U.K., the film revolves around the five Bennet sisters – Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), Jane (Rosamund Pike), Lydia (Jena Malone), Mary (Talulah Riley), and Kitty (Carey Mulligan) – who have been raised well aware of their mother’s (two-time Academy Award nominee Brenda Blethyn) fixation on finding them husbands and securing set futures. The spirited and intelligent Elizabeth, however, strives to live her life with a broader perspective, as encouraged by her doting father (two-time Golden Globe Award winner Donald Sutherland). When wealthy bachelor Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) takes up residence in a nearby mansion, the Bennets are abuzz. Eldest daughter Jane, serene and beautiful, seems poised to win Mr. Bingley’s heart. For her part, Elizabeth meets with the handsome and – it would seem – snobbish Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), and the battle of the sexes is joined. The ensuing rush of feelings leaves no one unchanged, and inspires the Bennets and everyone around them to reaffirm what is most important in life.

Focus Features will release Pride & Prejudice, which also stars Academy Award-winner Judi Dench, in select cities on November 11th with a nationwide expansion on November 23rd.