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Amer

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    QUARTET RECORDS: THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (2-CD SET) Music by Miklós Rózsa

    in General Discussion

    Posted

     

     

    THE-PRIVATE-KIFE-ON-SHERLOCK-HOLMES.jpg

     

    Quartet Records and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer present the remastered reissue of the wonderful, memorable music composed by Miklós Rózsa for Billy Wilder´s classic THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, this time in a 2-CD set with extra material.

     

    Wilder’s unique take on the world’s greatest consulting detective was meant to explore previously dark corners of Homes’ life—including his addiction to cocaine and his troubled relationships with women. Last-minute studio jitters forced Wilder to make massive cuts, shortening the running time from 210 to 125 minutes. The resulting film, in spite of great performances by Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, Geneviève Page and Christopher Lee, failed to catch fire at the box office, although it has acquired an admiring cult audience over the ensuing years.

     

    For the music, Wilder turned to his friend and past collaborator (FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO, THE LOST WEEKEND, DOUBLE INDEMNITY) Miklós Rózsa, asking him to adapt his Violin Concerto, Op. 24, for the film. Rózsa obliged, augmenting the concert work with a number of evocative new themes for the picture. The music for Holmes anticipates the elegant but autumnal mood of such later scores as PROVIDENCE, TIME AFTER TIME, FEDORA and LAST EMBRACE, while simultaneously combining the compassion and wisdom of experience with the wit, charm and joie de vivre of youth.

     

    In 2013, Quartet Records released the first official edition of Rózsa’s original recording, sourced from music stems located at MGM (the original studio masters, alas, are lost); it quickly sold out. That CD, in spite of its less-than-ideal sound, preserved the composer’s own irreplaceable interpretation, bringing this marvelous music back to life more than 40 years after it was written.

     

    Although no new elements have magically appeared since then, audio engineer Chris Malone has applied new technology to the existing material, and the result is this new edition with greatly improved sound quality. (We are now able to include the original version of “Gabrielle”—which was so damaged some of it had to be left off the earlier release—complete for the first time.) We are happy to present this as a belated celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary in 2020 (due to the current world situation, final approvals did not arrive in time to release this last year as originally planned).

     

    On the second disc we have included the premiere CD edition of the famous “Fantasy” that Rózsa recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for his album “Rózsa Conducts Rózsa,” released on Polydor in 1977. Also included is a new remastering of the premiere recording of the violin concerto on which so much of the score is based, performed by the inimitable Jascha Heifetz. Finally, all the source music recorded and supervised by Rózsa himself is also included on the second CD.

     

    This revised edition of the original tracks of THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, extraordinarily performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the composer’s baton, was a labor of love for everyone involved. The immortal music of Rózsa deserves nothing less. The lavishly designed package includes a 24-page booklet with revised liner notes by Frank K. DeWald.

     

    DISC 1

     

    1. Main Titles / 221B Baker Street (4:29)
    2. The Smoke Machine / Violin Concerto / Cocaine (1:48)
    3. Watson’s Rage / Being Presumptuous (2:04)
    4. Von Tirpitz Appears (1:11)
    5. Gabrielle (3:39)
    6. Nº 32 Ashdown St. / Canaries (4:02)
    7. The Diogenes Club (1:34)
    8. To Glenhurich (Loch Lomond) / The Parasol (2:09)
    9. Inverness / Valladon (5:32)
    10. The Sighting (1:08)
    11. Castles in Scotland / Urquhart Castle (5:01)
    12. After the Monster / The Monster Strikes (4:42)
    13. The Last Act (2:04)
    14. Ilse Von Hoffmanstal / A Certain Royal / Gabrielle’s Awakening (3:39)
    15. Holmes’ Morse Code / Eternal Silence (3:12)
    16. Farewell / Auf Wiedersehen (3:09)
    17. The End / End Titles (1:45)

     

    DISC 2

     

    1. Fantasy (From “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes”) (8:39)
    The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Miklós Rózsa, Conductor – Erich Gruenberg, Violin soloist

     

    VIOLIN CONCERTO Op.24

    2. Allegro non troppo ma passionato (11:28)
    3. Lento cantabile (7:35)
    4. Allegro vivace (7:51)
    Dallas Symphony Orchestra – Walter Hendl, Conductor – Jascha Heifetz, Violin soloist

     

    SOURCE MUSIC

    Adapted and Conducted by Miklós Rózsa

    5. Excerpts from Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky) (3:41)
    6. Balalaika (Tchaikovsky) (2:20)
    7. Balalaika – Waltz (Tchaikovsky) (1:49)
    8. Balalaika – Hungarian Dance (Tchaikovsky) (2:07)
    9. Balalaika – Mazurka (Tchaikovsky) (2:06)
    10. Balalaika – Russian Party Music Nº 3 (Tchaikovsky) (4:33)
    11. Variations from La Follia (Corelli) (1:51)

     

    BONUS TRACKS

    12. Gabrielle (Concert Version) (4:45)
    13. Eternal Silence (tracked) (Alternate) (0:41)
    14. Main Titles / 221B Baker Street (Extended Version) (5:29)

     

    LIMITED EDITION OF 1000 UNITS


    https://quartetrecords.com/product/the-private-life-of-sherlock-holmes-2-cd/

     

     

    John Williams' DISASTER MOVIE SOUNDTRACK COLLECTION (Poseidon Adventure, Towering Inferno, Earthquake) 4CD Box Set from La-La Land Records

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    8 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

    I was a little disappointed with the Towering Inferno part. The complete score disk is a great listen. But since before I only owned a bootleg of the OST I was looking forward to get at last a good sounding version of "An Architect's Dream". But the endtiles on the first disk sound somehow as if the original tape was damaged there. And the version on disk two is not much better than the one I have on my bootleg. This is definitely a track where I would like to see a re-recording. Maybe on "Lights, Camera... Music 2"?

     

     

     

    Check out the Suite on Varese RSNO re-recording series album called: The Towering Inferno and Other Disaster Classics which has the piece you have in question.

    The Towering Inferno And Other Disaster Classics 1.jpg

    John Williams albums by Philips Records (Boston Pops)

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    These just arrived from Japan. I'm just a bit tad concerned about the By Request cover- the print seems to be bit mediocre quality like a scanned copy (in comparison to the Philips release which is brighter and gold embossed) . I just hope it's not a CDR? I The other one is an SHM CD which is fine. I was wondering before opening these... 

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    John Williams albums by Philips Records (Boston Pops)

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    I just noticed that Universal Japan Music is now stocking some of the previously released BOSTON POPS recording albums on their Decca label front via amazon Japan.

     

    I have been meaning to collect some of the titles that were missing in my collection such as SWING, SWING SWING, THE AISLE SEAT, OUT OF THIS WORLD, POPS ALA RUSSE and AMERICA THE DREAM GOES ON as well as POPS IN SPACE, SALUTE TO HOLLYWOOD and another new compilation called THE BEST SELCECTION (which I already have with me now has a better upfront sound )

     

    Iam planning to upgrade to BY REQUEST THE BEST OF JOHN WILLIAMS hoping it will sound better than the old Philips pressing. (Also becuae my old cd is so worn out-LOL)

     

    Also most of these albums have been pressed on a better quality CD format called SHM CD which stands for Super High Material CD apparently allows the CD player to better read the quality of data printed on the cd. Ive seen reviews of the format and people have pointed out its significant improvement in the playback. (the digital payback will not be as amazing but on par with the previous releases)

     

    Check it out at:  amazon.co.jp

     

     

     

     

     

    SPOTLIGHT ON JOHN WILLIAMS: A Prospero Classical CD release featuring new recordings of JW film music

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    10 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

    Usually, I do not pay too much attenction to those compilations. Even the Vienna concert left me cold to a certain degree. The only two compilation that I hold in high esteem from the last decade are 

    • Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles - The third Williams/Spielberg collaboration album
    • Boston Pops Orchestra - Lights, Camera... Music! 

    Those two were really good compilations with special tracks and arrangements.

    From the samples I don't expect something like that here.

    I agree. Best Performances on these 2 are albums so far although I haven't listened to the Vienna concert fully as yet. But I agree Escapades seems a bit redundant at this point. 

    SPOTLIGHT ON JOHN WILLIAMS: A Prospero Classical CD release featuring new recordings of JW film music

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Thor said:

    I'm not checking out any tracks at all untill the album drops. And even then, it will not be immediate top priority (unless it contains some super rare things), as I've heard these things a million times over the years. Too much new stuff to explore, and too many soundtracks in my collection (counting 2122 at the present time) that need more spins.

    Thor, you already know it's the same usually stuff.... 

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