Search - Erich Wolfgang Korngold :: Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Music From The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1988 Re-recording of 1938 Score)

A Most Worthy Recording of a Timeless Film Score

Michael F. Hopkins | Buffalo, NY USA | 01/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Varese Sarabande's digital recording of the Erich

Wolfgang Korngold score for THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN

HOOD is a feat of great courage, and memorable

results. Far superior to previous attempts to

re-record these epic themes, Varujan Kojian and

the Utah Symphony Orchestra superbly capture the

heroic zeal, lyrical magic, and burning passion

which so emblazoned Korngold's music unto the

hearts of all who experienced the 1938 Errol

Flynn-Olivia deHavilland film classic.



While it is hoped that someone will issue a

digitally-remastered CD of Korngold's original

soundtrack (certainly Warner Video's restoration

of all aspects of the film suggests that this

is possible), it is no reason to belittle the

merits of the Kojian recording. It should be

remembered that this recording is of the score,

which would not have the minute -though precious-

cues which Korngold ingeniously added later. That

Kojian is able to bring out the polyharmonic

wonders of this music is no mean feat, and is

quite commendable.



If anything, this recording spurred some exceptional

recordings of epic film scores which followed this

1980s release. Certainly, composer Bruce Broughton's

1994 recording of Miklos Rozsa's chivalrous score for

IVANHOE is a marvelous accomplishment in itself, one

further noteworthy in that it aided in the eventual

issue -albeit limited- of Rozsa's original 1952

soundtrack by Rhino in 2002. Certainly, the digital

recording of Georges Auric's score for Cocteau's LA

BELLE ET LE BETE, or Philip Sainton's seafaring music

for the 1956 version of MOBY DICK represents magnificent

achievements in presenting some of the finest music

ever conceived - music which might never be heard

for its own beauty but for enterprising recordings

such as these.



Listen to this recording, and gain an appreciation

of what the imagination of one man can inspire in

so many, for so long a time."

The greatest Robin Hood ever!

Jari Kallio | 03/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Still, after almost 25 years, this is the finest recording of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Robin Hood (1938). Produced by George Korngold (the composer's son and legendary film music recording producer) and supebly performed by the Utah Symphony Orchestra under Varujan Kojian, this is a must-have recording.

The CD (itself a reissue of the original 1983 LP) contains about 2/3 of the complete original score, but this does not diminish the importance of this recording in any way. On the contrary, this recording demonstrates that a wonderful film music album does not have to contain every note of the score.

All essential score material is included and some tracks are in fact the composer's own radio/concert hall arrangements of the original film cues.

Just listen to The Archery Tournament and The Coronation Procession tracks and be stunned!"