The Merchant of Venice

Composer Jocelyn Pook's haunting and evocative score for Universal's adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice is ripe with both medieval and renaissance balladry. Using period instruments (serpent, lute, etc.) as well as period texts and the heavenly vocals of tenor Andreas Scholl and Hayley Westenra, Pook lends added weight to the myriad of romantic escapades experienced by the rich characters and provides a lush backdrop to Venice's riverside architecture. Her original pieces effortlessly blend both ancient and contemporary themes, relying on a small and talented group of players to capture Shakespeare's dramatic tale of loves both lost and won with gentle longing and heart-wrenching despair.