Search - Bernard Herrmann :: Citizen Kane (Re-Recorded Version)

"The Man Who Knew Too Much..On Dangerous Ground..Herrmann"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 01/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If we were to put a label or title on this compilation...would possibly be ~ "THE MANY MOODS OF BERNARD HERRMANN"...or what Silva Screen has partly called this collection ~ "THE ESSENTIAL BERNARD HERRMANN FILM MUSIC COLLECTION", and leave it at that---the reason I'm pointing this out is "CITIZEN KANE", doesn't really do this justice...I know the score is a classic, but just look at the list of scores I'm going to earmark in the next paragraph.My all-time favorite has to be "NORTH BY NORTHWEST"(1959), this non-stop score keeps you on the edge of your seat, not only is this a workout for The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, but the many moods that give this film such character...the Prelude is exciting with a bite, but then the mood swings and the tone of the moment changes with Conversation Piece...can only say this is a masterpiece from our maestro extraordinaire---"THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH"(1956), is the opening track...why?, because this Prelude tells it like it is...Herrmann's music is as visual as the camera work from Hitchcock, the score is another character in the film...and Herrmann is absolutely in character, right up there with Cary Grant, who incidently is running in a cornfield from a crop-duster-plane---"ON DANGEROUS GROUND"(1951), here we have a blank canvas and Herrmann is about to paint a portrait through his music...tormenting counterpoints from this Suite(Prelude/Blindness/The Silence/The Hunt/Finale)a city that's going down the tubes...a man who has lost compassion for others...and sees no light at the end of the tunnel...Herrmann feeds the storyline to the audience within each cue of music...and it works, gotta love it.Another example of the quality this label produces...under the watchful eye of many people ~ James Fitzpatrick(producer)...Reynold D'Silva(executive producer)...David Wishart(compiled/supervised)...and world renown The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra...under the direction of Paul Bateman and Nic Raine...of course none of this would be possible except for the ESSENTIAL BERNARD HERRMANN!You might try other Silva Screen Digital Film Scores Series ~ "The Essential Maurice Jarre Film Music Collection:Doctor Zhivago"(SSD-1108)..."Warriors of the Silver Screen"(SSD-1081)..."The Cult Files:Re-Opened"(SSD-1085)...all worthy of a good listen.Total Time: Disc One 55:07 on 17 Tracks...Disc Two 55:36 on 15 Tracks ~ Silva Screen Records SSD-1093 ~ (1999)"