Customer Reviews

Symphonic Star Trek

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Some reviewers have complained that this CD does not exactly follow the original soundtracks. Well, it's not a soundtrack, it's a symphony performance. If you want a soundtrack, then buy a soundtrack. But, like any "performance of" movie music, This CD is not going to sound exactly like the original. In some places, it sounds even better, especially for the TOS selections, because at the time the TOS music was produced, the recording techniques were not as sophisticated as today. As for the sound effects, they are not intended to be authentic Trek sounds. They're creative uses of orchestral instruments. (I still find myself wondering how they did some of them...) In short, I like this CD for what it is -- a pop performance of some of my favorite music. My only complaint it that it ends with "You will be assimilated." Into what? Trekdom? I would have preferred it to end with Leonard Nimoy saying, "Live long and prosper" -- as the perfect closing "bookend" to his fine narration at the beginning.

This is a great CD, even if it is outdated (no theme from First Contact, Insurrection or Nemesis.) But this CD is great. The sound effects are annoying, that much we can all agree on, but for those bashing the concert arrangement of the Original Series theme...this is the arrangement by Alexander Courage himself arranged for concert, its performed the same way by John Williams and the Boston Pops on the CD "Out of This World" among other Williams/BPO compilations. I would rank this CD below Silva's "The Star Trek Album" and Varese's "The Ultimate Star Trek", but above Naxos "Star Trek" album. Though, a Star Trek fan should have all of them! and even if your not a star trek fan, this is a good sampler at a cheap price. People selling this for under $5 with shipping! Thats a bargain. Standouts for me are Star Trek II and Generations. The Generations Overture (End Credits) sounds so much better with a larger symphony like the Cincinatti Pops than the orchestra Dennis McCarthy used for the movie.

I am really enjoying this CD. Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops give an outstanding performance. The sound quality is the best I have ever heard. The CD contains some sound effects which I found mildly distracting but other listeners thought they were great. Anyway, the sound effects are mostly on separate tracks so you can program them out with your CD player if you really don't want to hear them.

If you like classical music and fanfares, then you should listen to this CD. If you are a Star Trek fan, then you MUST have this CD. If you are a classical music lover and a Star Trek fan... Well, you get the idea! This CD definitely rates 5 stars.

I totally agree w/ other reviewers that mention the lame effects. Although I can't find as much fault in the disc as others. The music is just done too well. The pieces sound truly incredible on a great stereo set. I can't say if this is due to the special Telarc recording or not. Most especially wonderful is track 4: End Title from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The energy in the recording is amazing!

Yeah, w/ a full on soundtrack you get more. But this CD really does hit the highlights of the 'classic' Trek movies and some of the TV bits as a bonus.

My only complaint is that the effects are spread through the music and break things up too much. They are kinda cool the first or second time through, but having them all at the end would let me just hit eject rather than wade through them. At least they are separate tracks I can pick them out using my players program mode. Oh, and the 'Borg' bit at the end: yeah, it is quite probably the lamest thing I've ever heard.. ..Sorry guys!

This is one of the best recereations of Star Trek! And well worth the money! Erich Kunzel and The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra have created and astounishing replica! The only bad side to this CD is some of the more off recreations. Such as the origingal Star Trek theme. It starts out ok but then begins to sound like a mariachi band, them a jazzy gameshow theme. Which almost mocks the original theme. Plus the theme of Voyager. Which starts out almost exactly like the original theme, then goes completely down with an alternate ending. And the Star Trek IV theme which sounds alot better than the original. But dissapointingly ends with a big, unneccesary musical flourish.

The other flaw is the unamusing sound effects. One very good example of this appaling sound is the Borg track. And the creation of TINSIS track is unneccesary. Plus the mind numbing Nexus Energy Ribbon track. Both tracks are a jarble of useless noise combined with manufactured ocean sounds. WHO'S KIDDING WHO HERE! This CD would be alot better without the sound effects. If it diddn't have the sound effects, the CD is definitely worth FIVE stars instead of three. That what Star Trek is about.

On the good side, one of the amazing recreations are the Star Trek II and III tracks. These are good. Plus the recreation of the Klingon Battle from the first Star Trek. Again, it would be ALOT better without the Sound Effects. Which almost destroys the CD. The only good sound effect on this CD is the Humpback Whales track.

In all, Well worth the money!

Well, maybe thats stretching it, but this is certainly the Star Trek CD of the moment. With 28 tracks, spanning the full 74 minutes allowed by the CD, you're not shortchanged with this purchase at all. Its a bargain at any price. With the best music from all the series and all the movies, including classics such as "A Busy Man", you'll be listening for hours. If you don't currently own any audio tracks of Star Trek, then make this one the one you buy! I promise you wont be disappointed. I certainly wasn't! Thank You Mr. Kunzel!

Erich Kunzel and The Cincinnati Pops have done it again. A few people have complained that the sound effects are distracting or annoying, but I find they just give an extra 'oomph' to a brilliant Star Trek album. People must also remember that this is not a soundtrack...this is Symphonic Star Trek, played by a symphony orchestra. If you want the real stuff, then buy the soundtracks. What you get here is wonderful music inspired by the tv series and the movies. The sound effects are not from Star Trek but are versions created at Telarc, and they are so 'stunning' that they even come with a warning that if played too loudly they can result in damage to equipment. Even if you are not a fan or viewer of Star Trek, I think that you will still appreciate the awesomeness of this album.

This is a good CD, and it could've been much better if it weren't for some of the few annoying sound effects (the bad Borg at the end) or the gawdawful 3 minute rendition of the original Star Trek theme, which sounds like a cheesy broadway showtune or something they'd play on Icecapades (but it was redeemed by the rendition of the 'Menagerie' suite). Overall, while nicely played, the scores lack the "oomph" of the original film and TV versions (most of which are available on the Cresendo label).

NO Star Trek fan should be without this CD. This is the one and only Star Trek CD I own. Anything else I feel would pale in comparison. My children love it. On a trip to Yosemite we tortured their mother, playing it over and over. We couldn't get enough!

I received this CD at Christmas, and I'm still listening to it! It is a very fun, LOUD, and interesting CD. The one thing I didn't like was that it didn't exactly match the music I saw on TV and at the movies, but that's OK!