Search - Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, John Mauceri :: Hollywood Nightmares

Putting Nightmares On CD

Erik North | San Gabriel, CA USA | 04/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Adding to the recorded repertoire by John Mauceri and his Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, HOLLYWOOD NIGHTMARES focuses in on brooding and very dark music from the thriller/horror field. This fascinating compilation includes music from such composers as Max Steiner (the overture for the 1933 classic KING KONG), John Barry (the main title for the 1981 thriller BODY HEAT), Domenico Savino and Sam Perry (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA--the 1930s version), and Stravinsky (with an excerpt from his savage 1913 ballet "The Rite Of Spring" that found its way into Disney's 1940 animated masterpiece FANTASIA). There's also John Williams' main title music for JURASSIC PARK, and Jerry Goldsmith's chilling main theme music from his Oscar-winning score to the 1976 horror classic THE OMEN).



Among these also, however, are little gems that some listeners have either never really heard before, or have rarely done so--"Night Journeys" (from Williams' score to the 1979 film version of DRACULA); the "Sonata For Orchestra" from Franz Waxman's score to SUNSET BOULEVARD; the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra that Miklos Rozsa composed for Hitchcock's SPELLBOUND; and the "Prelude And Scene D'Amour" from Bernard Herrmann's score to Hitchcock's 1958 classic VERTIGO. As with "Songs Of The Earth" (a Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra recording reviewed several weeks ago), Mauceri and his orchestra make these into something more than mere pops staples one might hear at the Bowl. They are all very solid works of the merging of celluloid and music by some of the greatest composers Hollywood has ever had for films.



British pianist Stephen Hough is featured in the SPELLBOUND concerto, and the L.A. Master Chorale provides accompaniment on the title music for JURASSIC PARK and THE OMEN. Whether you are a staunch classical music enthusiast, a lover of film music, or both, HOLLYWOOD NIGHTMARES is well worth looking for."

Cheesy Cover - Great Music

jansley | Vernon, Texas | 02/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If ever a CD suffered from horrible cover art it's this one! The other problem is the title - does this mean scary music or music from bad Hollywood movies? It seems they tried to market this for a 13 year old Halloween audience, but it's really for those who like mature, exciting classical music from a full orchestra.



There is actually incredible music on this CD. It's very well recorded and, of the movie sountracks I've heard (King Kong, Jurassic Park, Vertigo, Body Heat, Omen, Dracula), very true to the originals. However, as others have mentioned, the real treats for me are the two 10 minute+ Franz Waxman pieces that I had not heard before. There is a little moment at the 1:43 mark in Waxman's "Sunset Boulevard" that sounds like Herrmann's "Vertigo". Also, at 4:20 of "Sunset Boulevard", there's a saxaphone part that sounds similar to the saxaphone in "Body Heat". Is that the reason these three pieces are together on this CD? I love this kind of stuff!



The only song that seems out of place on this CD is the "Jurassic Park Theme" (hardly scary or a "Nightmare"). Maybe the chase scene music in this movie would have fit better.



But all in all, if you like sophisticated, exciting orchestral music like Stravinsky or Bartok, don't pass on this one - especially for the incredibly low price. It's really very, very good and is over 72 minutes."

Don't overlook this because of the title.

Gary J. Wright | San Francisco, CA United States | 02/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is much more than a standard Halloween collection of horror music. Hidden within this collection are some superbly played suites that are vital for many afficionados of classic film scores.

Foremost here is the Jeckyll and Hyde suite by Waxman. This is magnificently played by Mauceri and his orchestra. Then there is a very good suite from Sunset Boulevard (again Waxman) and a fine performance of Rozsa's Spellbound Concerto.

These three items alone are worth paying full-price for, but seeing how inexpensively one can buy this CD on Amazon (presently), this is an unmissable bargain.

The other selections are also more than a little interesting, with Williams' Dracula and Herrmann's Vertigo receiving particularly fine renditions in terrific sound.

Don't miss this one. Some real gems lurk within."