Ignacio

Ignacio is a 1982 release on the Egg label that serves as a compilation of tracks originally recorded by Evangelos Papathanassiou, better known as Vangelis, during his time in Paris throughout the mid-1970s. The material was primarily composed for the soundtrack to the film Ignacio, directed by François Reichenbach, which documented the life of the Spanish matador Ignacio Sánchez Mejías. This release highlights the transition between the artist's progressive rock roots and the expansive, synthesizer-heavy soundscapes that would come to define his later cinematic work.

The album is noted for its melancholic and atmospheric production, reflecting the experimental spirit of the European electronic scene during the late 70s. Vangelis, who was already gaining international recognition for his innovative use of the Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer, crafted these pieces to evoke a sense of Mediterranean classicism and dramatic tension. Upon its release, the record was well-received by fans of ambient and electronic music as a vital bridge between his earlier Krautrock-influenced experiments and his eventual global success as a film score composer.