King of Kings [Original recording remastered, Soundtrack]

Miklos Rozsa (Composer, Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Miklos Rozsa
• Composer: Miklos Rozsa
• Audio CD (March 5, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00006311P
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,399 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Overture

2. Prelude

3. Roman Legions

4. The Elders/Sanctuary

5. The Scrolls/Subjagation

6. Road To Bethlehem/The Nativity

7. The Slaughter Of Innocents

8. Joseph & Mary

9. Pontius Pilate's Arrival

10. John The Baptist

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The Lord's Prayer

2. The Disciples

3. Barabbas' Plan

4. Entr'acte

5. Premonition

6. Jesus Enters Jerusalem/A Tempest In Judea/Defeat/Phalanx/False

7. Judas Sees Caiphas/Gethsemane

8. Agony In The Garden/Judas' Kiss

9. Herod's Castle Trumpet

10. Christ Before Herod

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

To call Hungarian-born film composer Miklós Rózsa the musical king of historical epics would hardly be hyperbole; Ben-Hur alone might have earned him the title. Recorded just two years after Hur, Rózsa's score to MGM's typically grand retelling of Christ's life was a worthy, sweeping orchestral bookend to the studio's previous Biblical-themed success. But its original soundtrack release was another matter: a vastly inferior European recording that crudely cut together but 40 minutes of Rózsa's musical cues. This richly annotated Turner Classic Movies/Rhino Records double-disc corrects that shortcoming (and an early '90s abridged version of the original score) and then some, collecting together for the first time Rózsa's complete MGM studio recordings for the film. Mastered from the studio's original multitracks, the sound is nothing short of spectacular, the sweeping scope of Rózsa's cues a tribute to what often seems a dying art form. Indeed, the melodic themes and dramatic, orchestral thunder here could power a half-dozen contemporary CGI-fueled actioners. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars APPROPRIATELY AWESOME! A Magnificent score restored!, April 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: King of Kings (Audio CD)

Here, at last, is the legendary Miklos Rozsa's COMPLETE score to the 1961 biblical epic KING OF KINGS, beautifully restored and presented by the people at Turner and Rhino. Those of us who love this score were subjected to an LP in the 1960s that only contained a fraction of the score. When KING OF KINGS finally arrived on CD, there was more of the score available, but it all sounded dreadful. Now, the errors of the past have been rectified, and all the beauty and nuance of Rozsa's music is here, and thensome! There are cues included here that weren't even in the film itself (as released). This is a true treasure for anyone who loves great film music, with incredible sound (hard to believe this was recorded 40+ years ago) and a beautiful package that lovingly re-creates the original souvenir program that accompanied the old roadshow presentations of this epic masterpiece. Grab this one, and you won't be able to stop playing it!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank goodness for meastering!, March 27, 2002

By 

Lee Ann,music lover "music lover" (Middletown, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King of Kings (Audio CD)

I think was probably one of the last people to purchase the original deluxe edition of this disc in vinyl before MGM stopped making it. I paid about as much for it as I did for this wonderful new release.I even had the souvenier program that came with it. Only problem with the one in the new set is the very small print. Anyway, the newly remastered disc is a true masterpiece. I didnt realize how much music had been eliminated from the original recording,even though I purchased the video several years ago. I particularly liked some of the background information,which pretty much summed up my feelings about the movie being underappreciated for years. The same can certainly be said for this wonderous CD!
Bravo!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mother of Soundtracks, June 13, 2002

By 

Patric Kees "SwissKahuna" (St. Gallen, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: King of Kings (Audio CD)

This is simply one of the most beautiful scores ever written! You can even hear that todays composers, like John Williams, are influenced by Miklos Rozsa's music. A fitting soundtrack to one of the best Bible adaptations for the big screen. This is a MUST for every collector!