In addition to the newly released soundtrack with Howard Shore's score, a classical disc on Suite 102/Madacy arrives Tuesday featuring Johan De Meij's composition inspired by the J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy. [...] De Meij's piece, composed between 1984 and 1987, originally was crafted for woodwinds and recently fleshed out for a full orchestra. The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Warble, recorded the album on Sept. 22 at Golder's Green Hippodrome in London. The disc includes a bonus track of French composer Paul Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice.

I still don't have the original version, but now I wonder if the orchestral recording should be the one to get.

I anxiously await your reviews...

Anyway, my first impression is that it's a good performance in good sound. No nasty surprises. (I was very worried they would do something stupid like include dialog).

The sound is decent, although the trumpets sound too shrill and squeeky. And it's true that there is little transparancy between the various orchestral parts.

Digipak crap should be banned by law. But this one isn't as bad as others. And the look is classy: gold writing on black background with a dark purple insert containing most of the credits and liner notes.
Some things could be questioned though: Greek letters in the ring instead of old Elventongues. The LSO is said to have performed the Star Wars, Braveheart and Notting Hill scores. All accurate, but you have to wonder who remembers any of Trevor Jones boring Notting Hill score. Most people probably don't even remember the crappy songs.

As for the music: it sounds much better in full orchestral sound that in the wind band version. The original orchestrations were pretty good, but with a full symphony orchestra the music takes on a whole new meaning. It's much richer, more epic and much more interesting, I find.

LSO is great. But Warble takes some passages too fast.

Interestingly, The Sorcerer's Apprentice did not sound as shrill as The Lord of the Rings part.