by Widescreen on 7/25/2001
favorite track: 1
 
More common than before, and sooner than other composers in some cases (Elfman, Barry), compilation discs of music by a prominent composer (whether original or newly recorded - hopefully conducted by the composer or with his involvement in a big way) have become prevalent. This summer alone has seen Hans Zimmer's "Wings of A Film" released, which was a treat to hear live recordings of mostly above average excerpts of Zimmer's work. Now, with a composer widely respected and revered, Jerry Goldsmith presents us with not only an enjoyable (however abridged) collection, but an EXTREMELY well-recorded album.

Featuring performances by the always excellent London Symphony Orchestra, the album presents some of the finest performances of Goldsmith's best work, making at least this fan wish the LSO had performed all of Goldsmith's work!

The first track, Star Trek: the Motion Picture, having been rearranged with newer touches prevalent in recent music Goldsmith put together from the last Star Trek film, is the most measured and eloquent performance and arrangement that music has ever been given. It is a must-listen for those who appreciate what Star Trek: The Motion Picture is as a score.

In the medleys, both "Television" and "Motion Picture," across a great body of work respectively, a Goldsmith fan can get decades of beautiful music in less than 20 minutes' time, which seems a bit unfair for the music itself, but if this were a concert arrangement, which it very likely is, than each would be the ideal. They are still a great listen from one to the next. Having not heard a lot of Goldsmith from the 60s and early 70s, it is a revelation for the first time to hear excerpts from Papillon, The Boys From Brazil, MacArthur, and Patton.

Perhaps given the greatest treatment in LSO's performance are the themes from Sleeping With The Enemy (which personally is as sweet and endearing as Julia Roberts seems to me), and The Russia House, whose long history into becoming the music it is seems validated in being for the title film by virtue of the music heard here.

And rare is the moment when we get to hear "Spielbergian" Goldsmith, so much to the enjoyment of the listener, who presumably has the original recording of Twilight Zone: The Movie, that when hearing this recording, it seems to elevate the music once again. This is very much needed, as the original recordings were by a small orchestra (and only played extremely well once since the recording from a similar Telarc Release performed by the Cincinnati Pops, conducted by Erich Kunzel).

With the "Direct Stream Digital" process promised in the liner notes and cover, Telarc's commitment to quality recording, of which I humbly submit is unmatched, is reason enough along with the program to pay the obligatory price. As most fans did not have the option of purchasing "Jerry Goldsmith: Suites and Themes," or paying the now ungodly price in getting a rare new copy, they are treated to at least a great deal of that program or at least a similar format with this disc. Any Goldsmith fan, even one who already has most of the titles listed on the tracks, would proud to have this recording. Just as those Williams fans with many of the CDs of his scores felt compelled to buy his Greatest Hits 2-CD set from Sony Classical. It is a rare occasion when any composer is given their due in a fan's estimation. It is obvious that this occasion does so, and does it very, very well.