Sunset Blvd: Classic Film Scores of Franz Waxman

Charles Gerhardt & Npo (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 11, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003EMA
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,463 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Prince Valiant

2. A Place In The Sun

3. The Bride Of Frankenstein

4. Sunset Boulevard

5. Old Acquaintance

6. Rebecca

7. The Philadelphia Story

8. Taras Bulba

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Franz Waxman's Music is Magic, October 2, 2001

By 

"lac9461" (Burlington, NJ. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sunset Blvd: Classic Film Scores of Franz Waxman (Audio CD)

This CD is a wonderful place to start your collection of Franz Waxman film music.

Waxman's sense of melodic line and tasteful harmonies are masterful. Of particular note are his suites from Prince Valiant, and The Bride of Frankenstein (also used in the old Flash Gordon serials). Charles Gerhardt does a fine job conducting this wonderful collection of jems.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful compilation of vintage Waxman, April 11, 2003

By 

www.DavidLRattigan.com (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sunset Blvd: Classic Film Scores of Franz Waxman (Audio CD)

Charles Gerhardt was just the right conductor to revive these classic scores from the prolific film composer, Franz Waxman: His lush, melodramatic interpretations of the music do not fit every genre, but he feels right at home here with the sweeping melodies of the silver screen.

A good selection of Waxman's film music can be found here, including his most acclaimed, Sunset Boulevard. (It certainly has a sparkle that Joel McNeeley's recent rerecording seemed to lack, even if the score is not present here in its entirety.) Other highlights are the stirring themes of Prince Valiant and the eerie and sinister tones of his score for The Bride of Frankenstein. A particular favourite of mine is Rear Window, sadly absent here, though to my knowledge only one recording exists (Lalo Schifrin and the San Diego Pops, Hitchcock: Master of Mayhem): Fans can take solace in the fact that one of the Rear Window tunes appears here in its earlier form as we heard it in A Place in the Sun.

If you are a film music buff, this is definitely worth a place in your collection. Gerhardt captures the essence of Waxman perfectly.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant!, April 27, 2001

By 

Mr. Allan K. Steel (Sydney, AUS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunset Blvd: Classic Film Scores of Franz Waxman (Audio CD)

Brilliant collection of music written for films by Franz Waxman. Great tunes, harmony and orchestration by a great but neglected composer!

Excellent playing and sound recording too.