CINEMA SERENADE 2: THE GOLDEN AGE

VARIOUS

Rating:

Original Review: Following the success of their initial collaboration, Cinema Serenade, back in 1997, John Williams and renowned virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman have teamed up again to present this sequel - Cinema Serenade 2 - which takes a nostalgic look back at some of the most well-loved themes from what is fondly referred to as Hollywood's Golden Age - the 1930s and 1940s. Perlman and Williams memorably collaborated on the 1993 Oscar-winning score Schindler's List, and the two obviously have an affinity for each other's work. It is perhaps pertinent to note that, such is John Williams' standing, he is the only mainstream Hollywood film composer who has enough "status" to be able to regularly draw upon the finest classical talents in his scores - such as Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma and Christopher Parkening.

Cinema Serenade 2 is a somewhat difficult album to review, because the common rules of film music don't apply. There is nothing to gauge the music against in terms of a visual stimulus, and there is no precedent to compare it against because, although the music included is well-known, it is the new interpretations by Perlman that gives the album its reason for existing in the first place. Therefore, I can say nothing else except that it is completely lovely from start to finish.

The work of nine composers is highlighted on the album, ranging from Charlie Chaplin's famous 'Smile' from Modern Times (1936) to Victor Young's memorable arrangement of a traditional Irish jig for the 1952 John Wayne film The Quiet Man. Each of the twelve themes are superb in their own way, but special mention should go to David Raksin's gorgeous main theme from Otto Preminger's 1944 film Laura; Max Steiner's memorably lush love theme from the classic Bette Davis coming-of-age drama Now Voyager; Victor Young's heartbreakingly beautiful, rhapsodic 'Stella By Starlight' theme from The Uninvited, and his equally moving theme from the 1949 drama My Foolish Heart, which was later turned into a hit song with lyrics by Ned Washington, and of course the near-legendary 'As Time Goes By' from Casablanca which, contrary to popular belief, was not written by Max Steiner, but by the largely unknown Herman Hupfeld for an off-Broadway production called Everybody's Welcome in 1931.

The only slight let-down is Perlman's performance of the unforgettable Tara's Theme from Gone With The Wind, a piece of music which never fails to generate an emotional reaction from me, but which seems a little muted and underdeveloped here. Maybe it's just my own preconceptions of the music kicking in, but I personally feel that, for such an epic theme, a solo violin does not do it as much justice as a full symphony orchestra.

For die hard film music fans, especially those who are familiar with any of the original soundtracks, it may prove difficult to put aside the memories of those earlier works and enjoy Perlman's excellent, if a little idiosyncratic, renderings. Such narrow-mindedness, however, would in my opinion fail to do justice to a thoroughly enjoyable album. It may be considered middle- of-the-road, easy listening film music, but Williams, Perlman and the ever-excellent Boston Pops deliver the goods with acumen.

Track Listing: Running Time: 47 minutes 35 seconds

Sony Classical SK-60773 (1999)

Music conducted by John Williams. Performed by Itzhak Perlman with The Boston Pops Orchestra. Orchestrations by John Williams, Angela Morley and Richard Rodney Bennett. Recorded and mixed by Shawn Murphy. Edited by Robert Wolff. Album produced by Thomas Frost.


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