Search - Bernard Herrmann :: Psycho: Essential Alfred Hitchcock

Good but far, far away from the REAL THING...

Paulo Leite | Lisbon, Portugal | 11/23/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"First of all it's very good to have so many Hitchcock's film music on just two CDs. A very good idea for a remarkable album. Unfortunately these are not the original scores, but a rerecording by Paul Bateman and the City of Prague Philarmonic. That's where the problem is. While some of the rerecordings are very good (Vertigo) others are a real shame (Rear Window and North by Northwest). Unfortunately (again) most of the films here presented are not available on their original recordings (like Rear Window or Psycho - two of my favourites). So, this is the only way you'll probably get them all together. I just wish we could have the REAL recordings! Anyway, a good buy (but far from great)..."

"master of suspense Hitchcock film scores"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 06/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Silva Screen Records present earlier composers who were masters of music on Hitchcock films, and later films with Bernard Herrmann on the second CD. The "CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA" is Miklos Rozsa's haunting theme which lasts over nine minutes is something from heaven. "STRANGERS ON THE TRAIN" the Dimitri Tiomkin contribution is also an outstanding track which can move the unmoveable with the heart-racing pounding sounds that the two composers generate. Both composers Rozsa and Tiomkin have a list of accomplishments a mile long, but to hear their music on a Hitchcock film is pure geneious in film making and scoring.The second CD is missing Herrmann's score of the "WRONG MAN". None the less it is nice to see what group of Herrmann's material is here and very well performed. We have some lively music from "TO CATCH A THIEF" and Hitchcock's final films - "TOPAZ", "FRENZY" and "FAMILY PLOT".I realize Silva couldn't have Tiomkin's "I CONFESS" and Webb's "NOTORIOUS", this collection is very good with what you could fit on two CD's. The album has the fantastic surround sound with quality and creativity. After listening to this collection, you realize you're hearing some of the old masters of film scoring - Waxman, Friedhofer, Rozsa, Poulenc, Addinsell, Tiomkin, Herrmann, Addison, Jarre, Goodwin and John Williams. If you don't know much about the old masters, this would be an excellent place to start.In closing, this is the kind of album you can fall in love with right from the start. As always, The City Of Prague Philharmonic conducted by Paul bateman is impeccably performed with brilliant digital sound. The liner notes in a sixteen page booklet, detailing each selection is excellent.Total Time: Disc One 69:23 on 13 Tracks/Disc Two 63:28 on 14 Tracks/Silva Screen Records - SSD 1101 (1999)"

Transport Yourself!

Isaac Lundgren | Mesa, AZ USA | 07/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a must have for soundtrack collectors and Hitchcock enthuses alike! One commenter gave the compilation a 2 star rating because they are not the "original" recordings. In most instances I would say never go for recording that is not the "original" . . . However, my exception to the rule is a faithful revival of the original. Although I would never want anything but the original film score while watching a Hitchcock production, it is a very special experience to hear a film score rerecorded with the latest brilliance in sound and recording quality. It really lets one appreciate how timeless these scores really are. Hearing them recorded in comparable sound quality to any other modern recording makes it seem as though they were just written two days ago. And yet it has been decades since any of these pieces have been appreciated to the extent they deserve. Hitchcock, brilliant in so many ways, knew how to pull the best out of his composers. They truly deliver some enchanting, exciting, haunting, and beautiful scores!"