Search - Korngold, Steiner :: Legendary Hollywood Golden Age Songs & Instrument

For Lovers Of Fine And Rare Music

William F. Flanigan Jr. | North Potomac, MD USA | 01/26/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This review is limited to the nine tracks containing excerpts
from Erich Wolfgang Korngold's film symphonies. BETWEEN TWO
WORLDS "Rapture" cue is literally a one-of-a-kind recording with
superb sound, and brilliant in execution and arrangement (the
latter is uncredited, but presumably by Korngold, since his
younger son, Mr. George Korngold, is cited as the producer on the
back cover of the CD). ESCAPE ME NEVER "Love For Love" has a
superb piano execution that comes close to being undermined by a
rather irritating soprano performance (but, at least, the lyrics
are interesting to hear) and "Sonnet For Vienna" consists of a
strange and unsettling combination of instruments (lose the
cello!). GIVE US THIS NIGHT cues are fascinating and impossible
to compare, since this is the only modern recording we have of
music from this film (the film, a opera-like musical, seems to
have instantly vaporized upon release by Paramount Pictures).
DEVOTION "Gluckwunsch" offers excellent performances with a great
instrument-mix arrangement. DECEPTION "Romance-Impromptu" is a
one-of-a-kind recording, literally, with very good performances
and an instrument-mix arrangement that works (this cue did not
survive the film's final cut so, technically, it is not part of
the film symphony!). What does all this mean? For Korngold
enthusiasts this is "must" for your collection. Steiner fans,
you're on your own. But if you're a lover of fine and rare music,
I'd go for it!"