Search - Erich Wolfgang Korngold :: The Sea Hawk (1987 Studio Recording)

Exciting and romantic

Michael J. Mazza | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 01/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Erich Wolfgang Korngold was one of the great composers of 20th century film music, and his score to the 1940 adventure film "The Sea Hawk" was one of Korngold's best compositions. Filled with excitement and romance, this is orchestral music in a grand tradition. This disc is a beautiful 1987 re-recording of the score. Conductor Varujan Kojian and concert master Ralph Matson lead the Utah Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a passionate performance. The disc is also graced by the presence of soloist Carol Wetzel, who delivers a beautiful performance on track 12, "Condemned to the Galley / Dona Maria's Song."Korngold's thrilling music captures the grandeur of the Elizabethan era and the thrill of adventure at sea. Furthermore, when I listen to "The Sea Hawk" I get the sense that I am listening to one of the venerable musical "ancestors" of the great science fiction, fantasy, and adventure film scores of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. If you love big, bold, emotionally rich film music, you will love this superb revisitation of Korngold's masterpiece."

Outstanding, But Much Too Abridged!

William F. Flanigan Jr. | North Potomac, MD USA | 01/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sadly, ALL of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's film symphonies are
incomplete, some more than others. None of these symphonies is
completely presented on any disc released to date (with the
possible exception of Tsunami TSU 0141) for many reasons
including: post-scoring film re-editing (and, often, re-
scoring); loss, deterioration, and destruction of original
nitrate-production masters; partial publishing of orchestral
sheet music; ownership conflicts and disputes; and disc producer
and recording label choice/number of selections recorded or
released. All discs, therefore, really only contain symphonic
excerpts. But some are much more extensive than others; a few
are one of a kind. Finally, there is the naming "process" used
for selections/tracks (also known as "cues"). Often the
surviving sheet music of original cues is nameless! Naming of
selections then becomes pretty much arbitrary, since titles are
usually derived from what occurs on screen (in the eye of the
beholder like the disc producer or music historian). Of course,
different folks see things differently, and name them
accordingly. But enough expository, already. Buy this CD for
what it is--a film-score thrill of a life time!"

Korngold set the standard

Johannes Leonard Rusten | Trondheim, Norway | 05/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This soundtrack is a real historical one. Korngold is one of the greatest names in my opinion, buy this cd - you won't regret! OUTSTANDING!"