Elizabeth and Essex, The Classic Film Scores of Erich Wolfgang Korngold_音乐专辑
Elizabeth and Essex, The Classic Film Scores of Erich Wolfgang Korngold
又名: 康戈尔德经典影片配乐集－伊丽莎白女王与埃塞克斯伯爵
表演者: National Philharmonic Orchestra/Charles Gerhardt
介质: CD
发行时间: 1991
唱片数: 1
出版者: RCA
条形码: 0078635018523
专辑简介
Aside from his superb abilities as a conductor, the one thing that distinguishes the compilations that Charles Gerhardt produced is the inclusion of less well known entries alongside the more famous. Whereas Gerhardt's other collection of Korngold's music has several more obvious inclusions, Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk and Kings Row, the selection here is perhaps less flashy, but in some ways more enjoyable; much of the Viennese gloss of the better known works is muted in favour of a more serious and dramatic turn. This is most palpable in the seven minute suite from The Sea Wolf which, rather than being another swashbuckler, is a psychological melodrama focusing on disability and a fluctuating state of mind. The opening of the suite is a surprisingly grim fanfare, but the rest is quite subdued, particularly in one passage featuring harmonica and strings.
There are some well known works, no more so than the compilation's titular opening track, the Overture from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. This is classic Korngold, filled with sumptuous melodies and shamelessly swelled brass in a superb arrangement of the score's main ideas. The Prince and the Pauper, as noted in another review, has a surprisingly contemporary musical language that is most appealing and about the closest Korngold came to scoring a kid's film. The brief suite from Anthony Adverse is really too short to make enough of an impact, despite its Oscar winning status. The centrepiece of the album is the twelve minute Cello Concerto based on music from Deception, but in a similar manner to Kamen's American Symphony from Mr Holland's Opus, the composition is a crucial plot point, although Korngold's music is many times more sophisticated than Kamen's. This is the first recording of the expanded concerto with the splendid Francisco Garbarro on cello, but as the liner notes say, there is enough melodic material for an even longer concert piece, but still a superb composition that not only has importance within the film, but can stand alone from it.
Another Dawn was one of the less inspired films that Korngold wrote music for and while it is gorgeously romantic and tuneful, doesn't perhaps have the presence or drama of the other selections presented here. On the other hand, Of Human Bondage goes through a whirlwind of styles from the imposing titles, to a breathless Christmas scherzo, a lovely lullaby and of course, the (almost) obligatory rousing finale. Naturally enough, Gerhardt turns in yet another faithful set of interpretations with the ever reliable National Philharmonic. There is some overlap, in terms of the scores chosen, with the Sea Hawk compilation, but the cues are different and so the albums are complimentary rather than competing. About the only disappointment is the brevity of the album, a longer suite from Anthony Adverse certainly wouldn't have gone amiss. Otherwise, another terrific selection of essential Korngold.
曲目
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (7:18)
The Prince and the Pauper (4:45)
Anthony Adverse (2:14)
The Sea Wolf (2:14)
Deception (11:50)
Another Dawn (5:48)
Of Human Bondage (8:07)
