by Mr. Jim on 4/19/2002
 
If one would ask who's done more for the creativity in scoring over the past 40 years, one name in five would come to mind - JOHN BARRY. This collection of 4 CDs is something that comes along just once in a lifetime. Barry creates visual moods for each film he scores from romantic, sentimental to action, adventure, suspense and mystery such as The Ipcress File, The Quiller Memorandum, The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy, Walkabout, Robin and Marian, Somewhere in Time, Dances With Wolves - the list goes on and on. Strings, brass and lush-velvet arrangements overlay each cue in his distinctive style of legendary scoring. Silva Screen's collection traces 40 years of film music, featuring the City of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Nic Raine. The Crouch End Festival Chorus, under David Temple, provides vocal performances. 56 selections, over four hours, of symphonic suites with full orchestral sound... all individually wrapped-up into one neat package... just the way "film-score-buffs" like 'em!

The arrangements are very true to the originals - if you're a John Barry fan as many of us are, this collection holds true. In my vast collection of film score albums, have many of the originals cues represented here, and the advantage is they're all present and accounted for. Nic Raine, more than any other conductor arranger, captures the essence of each mood swing that Barry is known for. Silva Screen you've given us just what the doctor ordered!