Back in 2013 I reviewed an excellent CD of music by Erich Korngold for Much Ado About Nothing. This was a recording premiere of Korngold's complete music for Shakespeare's great comedy, played by the University of North Carolina School of Arts Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Mauceri. When I tweeted the review today, the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth, Mauceri let me know that there was a television film online of the complete play with Korngold's music. This is really fabulous; great performances by these fine actors and musicians!
Showing posts with label John Mauceri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Mauceri. Show all posts
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Great film music with some interesting premieres
From September 6, 2014:
I was pleased to see this new Toccata Classics disc of music from Alfred Hitchcock’s films with John Mauceri and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. The director was more than normally attuned (no pun intended!) to the role that music could play in the total effect of a film, and his collaboration with Bernard Herrmann is perhaps the greatest of any director/composer pair in the movies. The disc is special for two reasons: the informative and insightful liner essays by Mauceri and John Riley, and the appearance of no fewer than four pieces that have never before been recorded. The most interesting of these is Herrmann’s Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra, which Herrmann put together in 1968 from nine cues from the 1960 film. Of the other composers included, Dimitri Tiomkin makes perhaps the biggest impression, with suites from Strangers on a Train and Dial M for Murder. But everything in the program is of interest, and it’s all performed at a high level by the Danish orchestra.
I was pleased to see this new Toccata Classics disc of music from Alfred Hitchcock’s films with John Mauceri and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. The director was more than normally attuned (no pun intended!) to the role that music could play in the total effect of a film, and his collaboration with Bernard Herrmann is perhaps the greatest of any director/composer pair in the movies. The disc is special for two reasons: the informative and insightful liner essays by Mauceri and John Riley, and the appearance of no fewer than four pieces that have never before been recorded. The most interesting of these is Herrmann’s Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra, which Herrmann put together in 1968 from nine cues from the 1960 film. Of the other composers included, Dimitri Tiomkin makes perhaps the biggest impression, with suites from Strangers on a Train and Dial M for Murder. But everything in the program is of interest, and it’s all performed at a high level by the Danish orchestra.
An important recording premiere
From June 20, 2013:
The incidental music Erich Korngold wrote for Much Ado About Nothing is outstanding: witty, atmospheric, dramatic, colourful. When you consider that he was only 23 years old when he wrote this music, it's an astounding accomplishment. This is the first recording of a fully-staged production of (portions of) the play with Korngold's music, and it's completely convincing, a worthwhile project that makes for a very entertaining CD.
The surprisingly accomplished actors and musicians from UNC's School of the Arts provide strong support in aid of the artistic vision of John Mauceri. This undertaking is obviously close to Mauceri's heart, considering the research he undertook into the original 1920 production, and the care he took in translating the music to a modern staged production. This exciting CD justifies that care and commitment.
I'm hoping that the new Joss Whedon film of Much Ado About Nothing brings a new generation to a love and understanding of a Shakespeare play that isn't always as appreciated as it should be. I know this Korngold disc will do the same, if in considerably smaller numbers.
The incidental music Erich Korngold wrote for Much Ado About Nothing is outstanding: witty, atmospheric, dramatic, colourful. When you consider that he was only 23 years old when he wrote this music, it's an astounding accomplishment. This is the first recording of a fully-staged production of (portions of) the play with Korngold's music, and it's completely convincing, a worthwhile project that makes for a very entertaining CD.
The surprisingly accomplished actors and musicians from UNC's School of the Arts provide strong support in aid of the artistic vision of John Mauceri. This undertaking is obviously close to Mauceri's heart, considering the research he undertook into the original 1920 production, and the care he took in translating the music to a modern staged production. This exciting CD justifies that care and commitment.
I'm hoping that the new Joss Whedon film of Much Ado About Nothing brings a new generation to a love and understanding of a Shakespeare play that isn't always as appreciated as it should be. I know this Korngold disc will do the same, if in considerably smaller numbers.
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