As you know TJ I own the Telarc recording and find it to be most satisfying.  As you said the miking and sound seem to be good, something Telarc is good with, and the Atlanta Symphony seems to find the right spirit with the recording.  I have no idea what this new Naxos recording holds in store for us but I am sure it will be reviewed.
Tom

I know that the Violin Concerto will also be on the release!  This will be one that I am sure I will get an advance copy of as it fits my site well.  They were very pleased with the work I did on Curse of the Werewolf/Frankel last year as well as the Virgil Thomson DVD release of The River and The Plow That Broke The Plain.  I'm glad you enjoy some of the similiar classical pieces that I do.
Tom

King's Row from FSM ? News to me.  Will that be like sandpaper to the ear drum or did they manage to record it on something that renders body ?

PS: tjguitar, I'm a late comer to Ben-Hur, my opinion is, it's over rated to the MAX.  It has Rózsa score, and I think that is over rated too, still it's mighty good fun to hear.  El Cid is THE Rózsa epic score in my books and Sodom & Gamorrah is under rated.  Now you know how it really is, I never clicked with Lord of the Rings either, which is shame because that is a mammoth trilogy with so much material.

I expect to be admonished for my sacrilege.

Not from me AJ

tjguitar wrote:

I have the 2 cd BEN HUR on the way...hopefully I can sit through the whole score, usually i'm fine with a suite, but this is a classic and I figured I should hear the whole thing---

I'm not sure if Rhino's 2 cd set presents the ideal listening experience. If you listen to the Rhino set first, you might get put off by it. There's a lot of music there, alternate takes, and so forth.  I must admit that I still have to explore stuff from the Rhino set.  Anyway, I recommend watching the film, checking out the Sony set, then going for the biggest commerical presentation out there, the Rhino discs.   

Keep in mind though, I've never seen any of these films, so I don't really know what it's "supposed to sound like" or what it "sounds like in the film", which might be why sometimes I enjoy concert versions...as they were clearly arranged that way for a mainstream audience in the concert hall....who knows.

In order to understand why Ben-Hur is considered to be a masterpeice, you have to see the film.  Although the ending didn't sit well with me, it will help you to better understand the scope of the score.

- Carlton

tjguitar wrote:

Why would the Sony one have MORE music than the box set?

Not more music, but additional music. This get's a little complicated. Initally, Rozsa was supposed to record the score in Rome (where the film was being shot), but due to budget problems Rozsa returned to Hollywood to record the score; however, unbeknowst to Rozsa, MGM records had already made arrangments to record the score, in Europe.

After battle's between the musicians union (We want Hollywood) and the record company (We want Rome), it was decided that Rozsa would conduct the score for the film itself, while his friend Carlo Savina would conduct the album, with the SO of Rome. Later on, the Frakenland State SO, recorded more music from BH, conducted by Erich Kloss (???). The Sony discs includes music from all three of these sources.

Most notably, the Rhino set does not include a rewritten version of the "Title Music" which was renamed, Prologue. While Yavar, doesn't care for this peice, I feel that it leads nicely into the Overture.  I'm use to hearing it this way, because this- the Sony version- was the first one I had heard

-CG

Last edited by Thulsa Doom (April 29, 2007 03:23)

I really, really like this Bernstein FSM boxset.  I decided YOUNG BESS was up for listening.  It's that Rózsa in Edwardian stylistics or something to that effect, possibly pre Edwardian.  I had previously been on the DIANE FSM set, which seems to be the ultimate of this side of Rózsa.  That boxset is marvelous though, the Alex North material seems to be some of the only available in this set.  I'm amazed at the quality of the vinyl transfer too, fantastic job.  Last I heard this box was 75% sold out too, taking a long time to disappear which makes it all the more likely it will not see another pressing for many, many years.

sdtom wrote:

I found myself listening to a nice compilation of Rozsa this morning recently sent to me.
This is a good compilation of a variety of different films from Rosza.
http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/cata … ieid=45193

I'm not going to go out of my way and praise the orchestra but still its well worth listening to.

Tom

Yeah, this compilation isn't bad.  Varese recycled this one for the Centennial Box set. 
I liked the take on the Ben Hur Overture, and the Plymoth Adventure suite was well done. 


-Carlton

Same orchestra... but the sound isn't as good.

August 20, 2008
Sorry folks, this will seem "off the topic", but I’ve only just joined, because I want to send a reply to a posting dating from November 05, 2006, from ajhgs Ivanhoe Clan Member who evidently lives where I do (Western Australia!).

"Well, ajhgs says he would like one of those ... Love those Decca Phase Four".

This was in regard to the Vocalion CDs of Miklos Rozsa’s film music for Ben-Hur and Quo Vadis.

Sorry again, if I have misunderstood... but does ajhgs mean that he would like to obtain copies of the original Phase Four LPs of Quo Vadis and Ben-Hur?

If so, I’d like to invite him to contact me (my member name is rushmore). I’ve requested the Vocalion CD reissues: haven’t got them yet, but when I do, perhaps we could make some arrangement regarding my LPs... I used BEN-HUR as a demo disc back in... 1977.

Now, I have a question: does any member know whether there is a CD reissue of the LP ROZSA CONDUCTS ROZSA VOLUME II?  The catalogue number is DG 2584 021 (my copy is on Polydor). This one contains splendid performances, Rozsa conducting, most notably of the overture to JULIUS CAESAR (re-scored, I suspect, since the ending especially ismuch "tidier" than what we hear in the original soundtrack version.

If there is a CD, could you be very kind and tell me how I might buy one?

I got them today, Absolutely Superb, Outstanding!!!  You guys at Tadlow are Amazing!!


WOW Thanks!!!



sd

Just downloaded ROZSA: VIOLA CONCERTO / HUNGARIAN SERENADE  Ill let ya know when I get around to listening to it.