Romeo and Juliet: Music Inspired by Shakespeare [Soundtrack]

Cliff Eidelman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 28, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B0000014ZP
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,099 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Coriolanus: Processionall And Fancare

2. Henry V: Prologue

3. Much Ado About Nothing: Overture

4. Romeo And Juliet: A Renaissance Timepiece

5. Richard III: Prelude

6. Julius Caesar: Caesar Now Be Still, Final

7. Hamlet: Ball At The Palace

8. Hamlet: The Duel & Death Of Hamlet

9. Richard III: Three Fanfares

10. Romeo And Juliet: The Young Juliet

11. Romeo And Juliet: The Montagues And The Capulets

12. Henry V: St. Crispen's Day, Once More Onto The Breach

13. The Tempest

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eidelman & Shakespeare!, October 6, 2004

By 

John Dziadecki (Louisville, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Romeo and Juliet: Music Inspired by Shakespeare (Audio CD)

Very fine sampling of some outstanding Shakespearian film scores ranging from Prokofiev and Shostakovich to Rozsa and Doyle with points in between. Closing out the program is Eidelman's 16 minute tone poem written for "The Tempest"! This is a excellent disc!

With his track record, I can't understand why Eidelman doesn't get blockbuster assignments.

5.0 out of 5 stars a very pleasing and varied program, October 16, 2008

By 

Stuart Paine (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Romeo and Juliet: Music Inspired by Shakespeare (Audio CD)

When I think Shakespeare film music, I recall the Bernard Herrmann/National Philharmonic Orchestra album on London Phase 4 Stereo, MUSIC FROM GREAT SHAKESPEARE FILMS, which featured five tracks from Shostakovich's HAMLET, three from Rozsa's JULIUS CAESAR and the immortal Prelude to RICHARD III by Walton. This 1997 Cliff Eidelman/Royal Scottish National Orchestra album on Varese Sarabande has that Walton Prelude, two of the Shostakovich tracks (I particularly like the panicked "Duel and Death of Hamlet") and a processional, "Caesar Now Be Still", from Rozsa's 1953 score.

Also here are:

* the Prologue from Walton's HENRY V with its famous fanfare and a dance so authentic in aspect that one would swear it had come from one of Respighi suites, "Ancient Airs and Dances";
* a sublime 6:41 suite from Nino Rota's score to the 1968 Zeffirelli film masterpiece, ROMEO AND JULIET, and two selections from the Prokofiev ballet, including the powerfully imposing "Montagues and the Capulets";
* four very short (and unusual) brass fanfares by Alex North,

and some music not yet written when Herrmann recorded his London LP:

* a few cues from Patrick Doyle's initial score for Kenneth Branaugh, HENRY V, his buoyant Overture to MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and finally, "The Tempest", a 16:34 3-movement tone poem by the conductor, Cliff Eidelman. That last work has its moments of urgency, particularly at the outset, around the 6:00 mark and again at 13:20, but is generally broad and patient and requires an intent listener.

I like this CD - opulent sound from the RSNO, nicely shaped by Mr. Eidelman. Incredible cover art, too, by Matthew McPeak.