Classics of the Silver Screen
Compilation: Various composers as below
Works Performed by Richard Leech (tenor); Diana Soviero (soprano) Blythe Walker (soprano); William Tritt (piano)
Erich Kunzel conducting the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Running Time: 77.31
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- Mouret - Rondeau from Prèmiere Suite de Symphonies [from the film Hot to Trot]
- Pachelbel Canon [Ordinary People]
- Puccini - 'Nessun Dorma' from Turandot [The Witches of Eastwick]
- Puccini 'Un bel di' from Madama Butterfly [My Geisha]
- Puccini 'Che gelida manina' from La Bohème [Monnstruck]
- Puccini 'O mio babbino caro' from Gianni Schicchi [A Room With A View]
- Mozart Allegro from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik [Amadeus]
- Mozart Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 [Elvira Madigan]
- Handel Sarabande from Suite No. 11 [Barry Lindon]
- Rachmaninov Andante cantabile from Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini [Somewhere in Time]
- Rachmaninov Excerpt from Piano Concerto No. 2 [Brief Encounter etc.]
- Mascagni Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana [Raging Bull]
- Liszt Friska from Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 [Who Framed Peter Rabbit?]
- Dvořák
'Song to the Moon' from Rusalka [Driving Miss Daisy]- Catalani 'Ebben?...Ne andrò lontano' [Diva]
- Vivaldi Allegro from Mandolin Concerto [Kramer vs Kramer]
- Barber Adagio for Strings [The Elephant Man and Platoon]
Another compilation of classical music used as source material for famous movies.
What makes this compilation different and preferable is (a) its presentation a substantial booklet with detailed notes not only on the music but also brief reminders about the films (b) superior Telarc recorded sound (c) a dedicated programme not a collection of excerpts from other discs and (d) very satisfactory to very good performances by Erich Kunzel and his Cincinnati players who are past masters at delivering committed performances for these sort of compilations. However buyers should be aware that this is a reissue from 1990 so check your collection
Of the soloists, Diana Soviero's soprano voice in the Madam Butterfly and La Wally arias, is nicely expressive and secure across a wide register. The pure, silvery lyric soprano tones of Blythe Walker in the Rusalka aria impresses too. Paul Patterson's mandolin solo spins radiant romance in the Vivaldi Mandolin Concerto while William Tritt is passionate and soulful in the Rachmaninoff excerpts (although Kunzel's treatment of the Second Piano Concerto might be thought of as rather wayward) .
If you are looking for a Christmas present for a young person new to classical music or for the film fan who wants 'to hear that tune I heard in that movie', this could well be the answer.
Ian Lace
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