Jump to content

Miklós Rózsa's Julius Caesar (1953) - 1995 Bruce Broughton / Sinfonia of London re-recording - 2021 Intrada Records Remaster & Expansion


Jay

Recommended Posts

Roger says

 

Quote

INTRADA Announces:

Image

JULIUS CAESAR
Music Composed by Miklós Rózsa
Conducted by BRUCE BROUGHTON
SINFONIA OF LONDON
INT 7165

As part of its ongoing digital series of releases, Intrada has now fully remastered its 1995 recording of Miklós Rózsa's Julius Caesar, performed brilliantly by the Sinfonia of London at Air Studios in London. From the thundering "Overture," the regal "Caesar's Procession," the skittering, malevolent "The Scolding Winds," the treacherous "They Murder Caesar" and the lonely horns calling in "Brutus' Camp," Rózsa composed a stunning work that stands as one of his most fitting and complex. It is the story of Caesar's downfall in pure musical terms.

As Rozsa himself affirms his approach: “If Julius Caesar had been merely an historical film about Caesar, I might have attempted the use of period music. However, it was much more than that. It is a Shakespearean tragedy and with its superb language a mirror of the times in which it was written, the age of Elizabeth. And it is the language which dictates its style." The music is dark, brooding and tragic, spotlighted at various intervals with bright bursts of Roman splendor, meticulously crafted in terms of musical structure.

Remastered in 24-bit, the resultant master is richer in detail than the original release. As with previous Excalibur digital releases, this release will be available digitally as well as on CD for a limited time. The CD will be available until October 15th, 2021, as a precursor to the digital album's release.

Shakespeare set his story in the Rome of 44 B.C., at a time when the city was not only rich with the spoils of the Roman Empire but rife with political dissension, much of it brought on by Caesar’s appointment of himself as a dictator. Mark Antony remains loyal to Caesar, but Brutus is torn between friendship and fear that Caesar will suppress democracy. Brutus becomes part of a plot to assassinate Caesar, a plot initiated by the ambitious Cassius, but demands that Mark Antony be spared. It is a story of the corruption of power, of friends, betrayals, and the most tragic of ends.

INTRADA INT 7165
Barcode: 7 20258 71650 7
Retail Price: $19.99
Starts shipping 8/24
For track listing and sound samples, please visit http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12420/.f

 

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8779

 

 

Doug says

 

Quote

Miklos Rozsa
Label: Intrada INT 7165
Film Date: 1953
Album Date: 2021
Time: 59:53
Tracks: 24
Price: $19.99

 

This CD release will only be available for 45 days and goes off sale October 15 2021 or when supplies run out.

Digital version coming soon to wherever digital music is sold.

 

Newly remastered presentation of our 1995 re-recording of Miklos Rozsa’s masterful score for Julius Caesar! Legendary Shakespeare telling of the events surrounding and following the assassination of the titular character saw production at MGM in 1953 under famed producer John Houseman, also-famed director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, with an equally famous cast that boasted Marlon Brando (Academy Award-nominated for Best Actor) plus James Mason, John Gielgud, Louis Calhern, Edmond O’Brien, Greer Carson, Deborah Kerr. Film was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar as well. Though Caesar is the catalyst for an intense tale of murder, intrigue and Roman warfare, it remains the towering figures of Caesar’s noble friend and Roman General, Mark Antony, in conflict with Caesar’s closest friend and eventual assassin, Brutus, that steers the drama. Miklos Rozsa anchored his potent score on these dual principals, offering not one but two primary themes that compliment and ultimately conflict with each other in an incredible final display. 

 

With his “Julius Caesar Overture”, Rozsa introduces Brutus with a rich, somber minor key theme for strings, while Roman fanfares accentuate. It’s a dark-tinged and brooding line that portends tragedy. Now enter Rozsa’s “Praeludium” heard underneath the opening credits, and Brutus gives way to the regal and martial Caesar theme, later to skillfully emerge Antony’s theme as he becomes Caesar’s avenger. How these two themes play independently for most of the score encompasses much of the 55-minutes of music. One superb highlight can be heard with the lengthy “Brutus’ Soliloquy”, in which his theme eschews all brass and unfolds with unusually thick, lugubrious writing for strings emphasizing the lower and middle registers. It surely qualifies as one of Rozsa’s great pieces! Other  contrasting ideas appear as well, including numerous Roman fanfares, processions and dramatic sequences involving storms, battles and the murder itself. And then there is that incredible moment when both primary themes play, then collide… with one of them finally winning the conflict.: “Caesar, Now Be Still” finds Brutus the assassin’s army being destroyed by Antony the avenger’s army. Rozsa works with the former’s tragic theme as Caesar’s once-friend now need fall on his own sword. Emerging at first from a distance then inexorably taking command, Antony’s (Caesar’s) theme becomes a powerful Roman march, climaxing in a resplendent display of fortissimo brass and percussion. Wow! 

 

Rozsa’s complete score, including much music not used in the final film, was beautifully reconstructed by Daniel Robbins from Rozsa’s own manuscripts. Three brief alternates make their debut. Veteran composer/conductor Bruce Broughton leads the superb Sinfonia of London, augmented by the Sinfonia Chorus and soprano soloist Jane Emmanuel. Engineer Mike Ross-Trevor records and mixes at AIR Studios in London, Booklet notes by Tony Thomas, Douglass Fake with Douglass Fake producing. Completely remastered presentation available in limited quantitiy on CD with new packaging designed by Kay Marshall before moving on to live as a digital release only.


TRACK LIST

01. Julius Caesar Overture (3:16)
02. Praeludium (3:38)
03. Caesar’s Procession (2:47)
04. Flavius Arrested (0:19)
05. Feast Of Lupercal (0:44)
06. Caesar And His Train (0:53)
07. The Scolding Winds (2:42)
08. Brutus’ Soliloquy (6:35)
09. Brutus’ Secret (2:12)
10. They Murder Caesar (1:09)
11. The Ides Of March (4:38)
12. Black Sentence (3:58)
13. Brutus’ Camp (1:32)
14. Heavy Eyes (1:50)
15. Gentle Knave (Full Strings) (2:09)
16. Ghost Of Caesar (1:43)
17. Most Noble Brutus (1:12)
18. Battle At Philippi (1:29)
19. Titinius Enclosed (0:41)
20. Caesar, Now Be Still! (9:12)
21. Finale (1:12)
Total Score Time: 54:29

 

The Extras
22. Praeludium (Alternate) (3:37)
23. Flourish (Alternate) (0:15)
24. Gentle Knave (Chamber Orchestra) (1:16)
Total Extras Time: 5:13
Total CD Time: 59:53

 

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12420/.f

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have that CD. Great album, and just perfect the way it is. But good to see it back in circulation for people who missed out the first time around.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm curious as to whether this (or the other Intrada conducted re-recordings already re-released) are worth the upgrade as they do sound pretty great already. Either way, think I'd wait for the digital version and keep the CD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Quote
Quote

Has the mysterious clicking noise on the new CD pressing been resolved?


Still working on it. Seems like the same issue as Legal Eagles. What's mysterious how it is only on a couple of releases. We'll keep you posted.

 

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=84368#p84368

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Update on the clicks

 

Quote

We think we've identified the issue but need to runs some tests. If correct, we'll need to rebuild the master. However, we have Black Patch recording next week so probably be a couple of weeks. We'll definitely give people more time to purchase.

 

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=84430#p84430

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Roger says

 

"Just to let you all know, the Julius Caesar replacement discs are in stock. If you need one, reach out to Jeff or the place you bought from. Either will do."

 

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=84967#p84967

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Doug says:

 

 

 

 

Both Ivanhoe and Julius Caesar have new discs in stock and will be on hand for a couple of months. Getting a replacement is pretty simple: Just contact Jeff through the site and request a new copy. f you originally purchased it from another outlet, just let them know. They should be able to provide you with the new copy as well. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy... or something like that. :D 


--Doug

 

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=85124#p85124

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Guidelines.