bollemanneke 3,338 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 20 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: What if the five additional tracks on the deluxe edition are great? Yeah, it would be much more engaging if they thrashed each other! If the five extra tracks are a game-changer, I will spend an entire night meticulously going over the advantages and disadvantages of buying this product. I will then come to a decision and act accordingly. Mattris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Rick 1,155 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Or maybe you could spend an entire night listening to the disc repeatedly after you drop the $25 or so and receive the set possibly? Seems like a lot of wasted time in self-debate on whether or not to purchase this release, but to each his own I guess. I mean, it's not like the JW Conductor 20-disc set that was about $125. If you want my humble advice, I'd say just go for it and buy the deluxe set. Regret is the toughest thing to live with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,338 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 I was being slightly sarcastic. I never buy anything before fully listening to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demondm810 399 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Damn, The Duel is amazing! ins and Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Romão 2,274 Posted August 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 30, 2019 I specially loving Donnybrook Fair and Night Journeys lairdo, Demondm810 and Will 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post pete 906 Posted August 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 30, 2019 I’m loving the Happy Potter piece. Will, The Illustrious Jerry, thx99 and 2 others 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 That's how you get when eating magic mushrooms. pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Incanus 5,713 Posted August 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 30, 2019 Wow this whole album is simply phenomenal! I love every single piece on it. I can't wait to hear the additional pieces on the Deluxe edition. The Donnybrook Fair, Cinderella Liberty, Night Journeys and Sayuri's Theme get special mentions after first listen but as I said it is a fantastic album as a whole. David Story, Remco and Timo Martikainen 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toothless 963 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Available in 24-Bit 96.0 kHz on qobuz for $14.99 https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/across-the-stars-anne-sophie-mutter-the-recording-arts-orchestra-of-los-angeles-john-williams/gkgfl5mf0jh0a David Story 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Miguel Andrade 1,262 Posted August 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 30, 2019 I'm just over the moon with this album. Even the older pieces (Schindler, Sabrina) sound superb. As much as I love Perlman playing and the two Cinema Serenade discs, this is just a dream of a CD. Amer, The Five Tones, Cerebral Cortex and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 After a first listen through the whole album, I have to say it's a very nice one. Definitely more appealing to me than the Dudamel album. Of the tracks that haven't been released earlier, I really like the dramatic ones - Far and Away, Dracula, Tintin - and of course the more relaxed Sabrina - I've been waiting for a better violin version of that great theme! Amer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Disco Stu 15,495 Posted August 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 30, 2019 21 minutes ago, Miguel Andrade said: over the moon Not included on the album unfortunately The Illustrious Jerry, igger6 and Will 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miguel Andrade 1,262 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 5 minutes ago, Disco Stu said: Not included on the album unfortunately 18 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: After a first listen through of the whole album, I have to say it's a very nice one. Definitely more appealing to me than the Dudamel album. Of the tracks that haven't been released earlier, I really like the dramatic ones - Far and Away, Dracula, Tintin - and of course more relatex Sabrina - I've been waiting for a violin version of that great theme! If you've been waiting for a violin version of Sabrina, it's been available since 1997 on the first Cinema Serenade: https://www.amazon.com/Cinema-Serenade-Itzhak-Perlman-Williams/dp/B0000029W9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 12 minutes ago, Miguel Andrade said: If you've been waiting for a violin version of Sabrina, it's been available since 1997 on the first Cinema Serenade: https://www.amazon.com/Cinema-Serenade-Itzhak-Perlman-Williams/dp/B0000029W9 I forgot the decisive word: "better"! To me, Perlman's playing on the Cinema Serenade albums are a bit hit and miss. I guess that's why I've never bought them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Excellent recording of Dracula. I just don't like how the original version sounds (OST or 2CD) and various redos sound so much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 What exactly do you not like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 "Donnybrook Fair" is excellent, though I'll admit I was quite disappointed that JW didn't do anything with the main love theme (not even a short statement). I feel like there could have been some cool counterpoint or something with the fast solo violin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,319 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Well I listened to this whole album on Spotify today and I liked it! I think the middle of the album is the strongest; The opening trio of the super famous Rey's Theme / Yoda's Theme / Hedwig's Theme just kind of felt like a "singles collection" more than an album. But then as we get into more interesting stuff like Donnybrook Fair, Sayuri's Theme, and especially Night Journeys and The Duel, I was really digging the flow of the album. Luke and Leia and the Theme from Schindler's List felt more like a singles collection again to finish things off, and overall I thought the album felt REALLY short! I think the Deluxe Edition will improve things dramatically, especially since most of what's being added to that are less overplayed pieces. I can't wait to give the whole project another listen when that comes out. Right now, i feel like this is a very nice collaboration album, but not anything I'm going to listen to a large amount of times. But we'll see what the future brings! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 32 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: What exactly do you not like? How it sounds. My first time hearing that score was the John Mauceri album, which is also a stellar recording. Once I heard the OST, I was pretty much disgusted with the subpar audio. My one listen to the DE did nothing to change my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 But the sound quality of the DE is much improved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Did nothing for me. Most of JW's scores recorded in the 70s sound like crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igger6 894 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 I'm lovin' it! I think Dracula is, pound for pound, a better track than anything from the score, and I say this having bought the expansion a few months ago. "The Duel" is also great, and while I see your point about "Donnybrook," @Will, that just gives us fodder for Part 2 (which sounds oddly possible in one of the interviews above, and on which that love theme will hopefully be joined by the one from The Terminal and, of course, Droid Motif for Violin and Orchestra). While we're at it, Maestro, let's do a violin arrangement of "Crimebuster" from Heartbeeps! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stempel 136 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 It is a fantastic Album! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 1 hour ago, igger6 said: I'm lovin' it! I think Dracula is, pound for pound, a better track than anything from the score, and I say this having bought the expansion a few months ago. "The Duel" is also great, and while I see your point about "Donnybrook," @Will, that just gives us fodder for Part 2 (which sounds oddly possible in one of the interviews above, and on which that love theme will hopefully be joined by the one from The Terminal and, of course, Droid Motif for Violin and Orchestra). While we're at it, Maestro, let's do a violin arrangement of "Crimebuster" from Heartbeeps! This this this! Amer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post artguy360 1,843 Posted August 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 30, 2019 Opening with Rey's Theme is a nice choice. A very energetic rendition. _deleted_, The Illustrious Jerry, David Story and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricsim88 244 Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 I really enjoyed this CD. Can’t wait to hear the deluxe version. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amer 2,080 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 You all enjoys this. I'll be waiting for the Deluxe Edition which comes out next month. I feel this album will be a commercial success and if it's a big hit I certainly hope for a 2nd volume someday soon. A new rendering of Leaving Home from SUPERMAN would be something? Wouldn't it? "Martha Clark Kent are you listening to what Iam saying..." Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post David Story 57 Posted August 31, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted August 31, 2019 The magic is back! If you like film, the films are summed up and glorified. If you like music, it soars to heights and explores depths that culminate the neoromantic era. If you like performance this dazzles with live energy and charm. Dracula is probably the darkest thing he's done on a concert album. And the leggiero eloquence in Hedwig and Luke and Liea blooms into classic Williams. He really has changed with the times, but remembers the old wisdom. crumbs, The Illustrious Jerry and Jurassic Shark 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amer 2,080 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 The Donnybrook Fair has an altogether different energy and nuance to it. Much different from its original rendering by Itzhak Perlman. I loved it. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,304 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 Great post, @David Story It feels like Williams is embracing a new stage in his career, which actually feels like a surmation of his evolving style over half a century of writing. It's fascinating to hear vintage pieces in new arrangements, containing fragments of stylistic changes Williams has had over the years. I can't help but wonder if the surplus of fantastic Mike Matessino expansions, specifically tailored to revisiting his catalog from decades past, has helped inform this shift? Either way, it's glorious. Will and David Story 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 Well, the magic is also in his 2010's scores, it just isn't so obvious and underlined. Wonderful stuff. Timo Martikainen and Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 906 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 Another fan of this album! Years ago, I was browsing one of the piano anthologies and I remember noticing what a well-crafted piece "Nice to be Around" was, but I was never really a fan of the song as it appeared on the soundtrack and I never really warmed to the harmonica renditions. So glad to have a this lush version for violin. We're lucky Andrea Previn suggested it and Dracula. Here's to more new arrangements of older gems. And I think the Star Wars pieces with perhaps the exception of Rey's Theme will become my versions of choice. Nothing against this new version of Rey's Theme, I just love the original. I also was never that much a fan of the original Across the Stars, but I sure like this new version. I'm dying for the recorded Princess Leia and am holding on to a faint hope of a volume 2 with Han Solo and the Princess. Also hoping the world tour Ms Mutter mentioned comes to my neck of the words - Korea. It would be amazing seeing all these pieces and more performed live. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,478 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 I'm going to be unpopular again, and offer some slightly more tempered views on this album. First of all, I've never really been a big fan of solo violin stuff. Don't know why; something about the pitch and sound, maybe. Solo viola goes on my nerves immediately, solo violin is tolerable, but if I'm going to have solo strings, it's really all about cello for me (or tutti strings). Not the biggest brass fan either. I'm more of a woodwinds or piano guy. That being said, there's no denying Mutter's abilities here. Great dynamic range and technical finesse. No one ever doubted that. But I have problems whenever more 'clean-shaven' themes are rearranged with lots of ornamentation. It throws me off a bit. There are some examples of this here, like "Hedwig's Theme", "The Duel", "Nice to Be Around" (although that one is certainly interesting sans-harmonica!), "Schindler's List" (my issue here is less ornamention and more the lack of 'rawness'). Other tracks work better; you can still find traces of the theme's "soul" without it being suffocated with extraneous virtuosity. For solo violin John Williams albums, I much rather take Gil Shaham's album over this, since the lines are written out from the get-go. But it's not bad or anything; just not as enthusiastic about it as everyone else seems to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 5 minutes ago, Thor said: For solo violin John Williams albums, I much rather take Gil Shaham's album over this Are you referring to his album with one JW piece - The Devil's Dance? That is a great album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,478 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 No, this one, also a must-have for JW fans: https://www.amazon.com/John-Williams-Treesong-Concerto-Schindlers/dp/B00005M05E The Five Tones 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 Oh that one - I thought you were referring to something more in the film music genre, although it has a good take on the SL suite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 9 hours ago, Thor said: First of all, I've never really been a big fan of solo violin stuff. Hell yeah. Maybe you are not the best person to review this album. And I will not review any Hanz Zimmer's horrible album. Deal? Timo Martikainen and Jurassic Shark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 18 minutes ago, hornist said: Hell yeah. Maybe you are not the best person to review this album. And I will not review any Hanz Zimmer's horrible album. Deal? I thought you and Thor would feel similarly cool on this album! It's got way too much Dracula and not enough Book Thief, isn't that right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,478 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 1 hour ago, hornist said: Hell yeah. Maybe you are not the best person to review this album. And I will not review any Hanz Zimmer's horrible album. Deal? Ha, ha, no. I think I like solo violins better than you do Hans Zimmer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Mark 3,626 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 I'm in same boat with solo violin stuff Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 906 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 I also much prefer the cello, and I've always hoped for an album like this but for cello. Having said that, I am enjoying the new album. And I'm enjoying the more flashy pieces and think that Hedwig's Theme, The Duel, and the Far and Away piece are particularly suited to really flashy virtuosic violin parts. Williams and Mutter clearly at a lot of fun with the project, and I really can't fathom how much practice she must have put into these pieces and the ongoing maintenance needed to keep these at her finger tips. Will and aviazn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpy 4,145 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 I've never much preferred the solo violin, either, but Mutter's playing and Williams' arrangements have really made me appreciate the instrument in a way which I haven't before. The Harry Potter piece is perhaps my favourite arrangement on the album; the energy that Williams has written into the piece, and the vivacity which Mutter can wring from it is amazing, it's like Williams is breathing life back into that world again and reasserting his command over his work! Amer and Mattris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Solo violin is great! Miguel Andrade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post p0llux 392 Posted September 1, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2019 As a violinist that haven't practiced in a few years, this was a dream album for me. Hearing Anne-Sophie Mutter gracefully and skillfully play some of these themes in Paganini style makes me very happy and motivated. A true union of classical virtuoso violin and contemporary orchestral styles. For me, I enjoyed "Night Journeys" the most because of how concert-like it sounded. The main theme was already very concert-like among John's movie themes. Combine that theme with Mutter's cadenzas and it sounded like a movement from a violin concerto in the classical repertoire. But later in the piece, it always switches back to the familiar sweeping Hollywood romantic strings as if to remind you that no matter how concert-like it sounded, it was born from a movie cue. It's just pure brilliance to me. Other stand out tracks for me was "Hedwig's Theme", which clearly wanted show off Mutter's virtuosity as much as possible. Mutter's version of "Theme from Schindler's List" was taken at a slower tempo than I prefer, but still incredibly well played. It does not top Itzhak Perlman's faster version in "Cinema Serenade" or the slower version on the OST. Finally, the title track "Across the Stars" and "Rey's Theme" are likely the most well arranged pieces with great balance between flashiness and beauty. But honestly, I can say that for almost every piece in this album. I just love it so much. Shout out to the "Luke and Leia" and "Yoda's Theme" arrangements, which are both top tier beautiful Star Wars themes. Can't wait to hear the deluxe version. Rating: 5/5 Mattris, _deleted_, Holko and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Amer 2,080 Posted September 1, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2019 Over the years, Williams has treated film music with utmost care so as to make it more respectable in the Concert hall. Since the start of the millennium he has invoked special concert versions of the main themes of most scores. The main themes in the OST albums are written and structured that way and it's pure Williams genius as well as his embodiment of the craft that he has developed over the decades to optimise the life of his musical creations. So it's no surprise that since past few years he has been revisiting many of his themes including forgotten ones and reclaimed them back in New concert arrangements. This collaboration with the violin is a love letter to the concert hall and the remarkable induction of Anna Sophie Mutter in Williams own reportire will surely bring a long health perspective for a long time. I can see the Grammy on this already. Jay, Incanus, Will and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 1 hour ago, Amer said: Anne-Sophie Mutter Fixed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theMaestraX 106 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Impressive....most impressive! Anne Sophie Mutter plays her violin like a true dedicated John Williams/Star Wars fan! David Story 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,033 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theMaestraX 106 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Your velkome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 This version really brings out the Geisha-ness of Rey's Theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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