Search - Bernard Herrmann, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra :: Bernard Herrmann: The Film Scores

Classic, at reduced price

Benjamin A. Opie | 08/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As much (if not more) than any other film composer, Bernard Herrmann's music stands up to listening independent of the films. The emphasis here is on Herrmann's scores for Hitchcock, when both men were arguably at their creative heights.



Note: this is NOT a collection of original soundtrack recordings. However, Salonen and the LA Philharmonic at absolutely top-notch, and the recording is beautiful. Certain subtleties are actually easier to hear on this recording than on some of the originals.



As if I couldn't recommend this highly enough, the price has been reduced on this reissue! This deserves a wide audience, don't hesitate to buy it."

Excellent performances of a selection of Herrmann's later fi

Peter Hoogenboom | New Zealand | 06/15/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic produce fine performances of a selection of Herrmann's post-1955 film scores.



The music itself is of variable musical interest.

The music from "The Man who Knew too Much", "Vertigo", "Marnie", "North by Northwest", "Taxi Driver" and "Psycho" shows Herrmann at his best.

"Torn Curtain" and "Fahrenheit 451" find Herrmann at his least inspired and it is a pity Salonen didn't jettison these items in favour of something else.



The performances cannot be faulted and lovers of Herrmann's music will find much to enjoy here."

Not your regular Herrmann

Stuart M. Paine | Arlington, VA USA | 06/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Salonen is to be congratulated for having assembled an unusual and striking program here. Yes, he has some of the warhorses (VERTIGO, PSYCHO) and that's great, but this disc is more about these other things: THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, TORN CURTAIN, FAHRENHEIT 451 and TAXI DRIVER. I particularly appreciate the long suite from FAHRENHEIT 451 (which should have received an Oscar nomination in 1966) and the generous set from TAXI DRIVER. The orchestra is dead-on with this music and Salonen is clearly into it."