Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo & Juliet (World Premiere Digital Recording of the Complete Film Score) [Soundtrack]

Nino Rota (Composer), Nic Raine (Conductor), City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Nic Raine
• Composer: Nino Rota
• Audio CD (June 25, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Silva America
• ASIN: B000066SF9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,809 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Is This What Rota Really Had In Mind?, May 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo & Juliet (World Premiere Digital Recording of the Complete Film Score) (Audio CD)

I was excited when I discovered that there was a new digital recording of Rota's score to Romeo and Juliet. I had been searching for the original soundtrack, but was unable to find a copy.

I am very disappointed with this CD. To me, the charm of the original score in the film is its intimate, early Renaissance style. From the opening notes of the score in the film, one is immediately transported to Shakespeare's Verona.

This recording, however, is over-orchestrated, overproduced, and not true to the original goals of the composer and director. In the liner notes, producer James Fitzpatrick explains that the original manuscript was"lost", and that this recording is based on what arranger Mike Townsend was able to recreate by ear. Commendable, but this rendition is very string-heavy and splashy, reminding me more of "Love Story" than Romeo and Juliet. The choral sections are nice enough, but Luke Bateman's odd rendition of "What Is A Youth" leaves much to be desired.

Fitzpatrick admits that "a few liberties" were taken with tempos and that the orchestra was expanded, but he insists that the intimate nature of the score is retained.

You be the judge

37 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "completely experience the beauty of Nino Rota's score", June 29, 2002

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo & Juliet (World Premiere Digital Recording of the Complete Film Score) (Audio CD)

A theme to end all themes "Romeo & Juliet", composed by Nino Rota is without a doubt one of the most romantic and poetic scores ever conceived. Even when the music stops, the theme remains in your mind with tragic-love and medieval forbidden passions. A play from William Shakespeare, under the brilliant direction of Franco Zeffirelli with a young cast of players ~ seventeen year old Leonard Whitting (as Romeo), fifteen year old Olivia Hussey (as Juliet) and outstanding supporting cast of Milo O'Shea (as Friar Laurence), Michael York (as Tybalt) and John McEnery (as Mercutio) takes this film adaptation to the ultimate of classic Shakespeare. The film was sexual, passionate and lavish, but it was our composer Nino Rota who connected all the musical notes and gave our characters life on the silver screen.

With Rota's score there is beauty mixed with a deep sorrow that stirs every fibre within your being when you hear the music. Our composer captures the Italian renaissance and the desperate times for two young people in love headed for tragedy perfectly. For the first time we hear the entire and complete film score as it was meant to be heard. Wonderful digital recording with The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, conducted by Nic Raine and Choir Master Pavel Kuhn, on a musical journey back to Italy on October 19, 1968 when the film was released.

Can remember as if it were yesterday, when Henry Mancini came out with his arrangement of the tragically-haunting "Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet", must have played this a hundred times (never grew tired of it). Mancini's recording was featured everywhere on the radio, restaurants and at your local music stores. Was a big hit, and the film was nominated for four Academy Awards (Best Director & Best Picture), won for Cinematography and Costume Design. But it was the music that stayed with you and still does to this day...thanks to Nino Rota!

Silva Screen Records and James Fitzpatrick (producer), please stand up and take a bow for a well deserved rare gem you've given us. This can only be one of the most sought after scores complete in every detail for any "film-score-buff" worth his salt. As you listen to this CD, you can visualize each scene the cue is recalling. And speaking for one and all movie music collectors----this is a keeper!

Total Time: 55:16 on 21 Tracks ~ Silva America SSD-1140 ~ (2002)

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romeo & Juliet Nino Rota, July 14, 2005

By 

CJ Dorman (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo & Juliet (World Premiere Digital Recording of the Complete Film Score) (Audio CD)

I ordered this directly from the distributor in England. After searching high and low (Amazon 1st and it didn't come up)I finally called the local radio station to find out the details. The DJ said that he too was looking for another CD, but couldn't locate a copy either, but did give me a few details on the one he had. It took quite a bit of Internet research, but I was finally able to locate Silva Screen.

Received it yesterday and have listened to it non-stop. It is fabulous. Like so many in my age group (49)I loved the film by Zeffirelli and had the whole soundtrack memorized. At this point in my life, I don't quite feel the need to hear the whole dialogue; just want to enjoy the music. This CD provides a trip to the past. I can recall every scene. Hard to say why some who have reviewed this don't find it as good as the original. To me it is amazingly similar to the movie soundtrack, maybe even better.

I highly recommend this and suggest buying 2 or more because they can be very hard to find.