ROSZA: BEN HUR; QUO VADIS; JULIUS CAESAR EXCERPTS - ROSZA, HERRMANN, NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC (2 CDS)

One of the most entertaining composer autobiographies is Miklos Rozsa's Double Life, first published in 1982 - the same year that he scored his last film (the Steve Martin vehicle Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid). The book's title is an allusion to R zsa's twofold career as a composer of music for the concert hall and for motion picture soundtracks. R zsa was respected by Hollywood and by Carnegie Hall alike, and both halves of his 'double life' as a composer were artistically valid and complete unto themselves. Master of the epic, his scores for Ben Hur and Quo Vadis are legendary. The colourful booklet notes by Raymond Tuttle include fascinating commentary on the background to these recordings as well as the sensitive relationship between Rozsa and Bernard Herrmann. Also included is the latter's recording of music from Rozsa's score for Julius Caesar - one of the first films to be recorded in stereo. The recordings of both Ben Hur and Quo Vadis had limited release on Decca/London and are available in this new coupling.

With its gaudy primary colours and red-blooded conviction, Rozsa's score for Ben Hur is a potent mixture of orchestral spectacle and choral kitsch...It is all presented her with great conviction, and the Decca Phase Four techniques create maximum impact, with rich sonorities and a sparklingly brilliant upper range. --BBC Music Magazine



ROZSA: BEN HUR - SELECTIONS
Rozsa: Fanfare To Prelude
3:59
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Star Of Bethlehem And Adoration Of The Magi
4:02
National Philharmonic Orchestra, The National Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Friendship
3:54
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: The Burning Desert
5:23
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Arrius's Party
1:46
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Rowing Of The Galley Slaves
2:39
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Parade Of The Charioteers
3:33
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: The Mother's Love
2:53
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Return To Judea
2:33
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Ring For Freedom
2:49
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Lepers' Search For The Christ
3:13
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Procession To Calvary
4:46
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Miracle And Finale
5:32
National Philharmonic Orchestra, The National Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus
Miklós Rózsa

DISC 2

QUO VADIS

Rozsa: Prelude
2:09
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Marcus And Lygio
3:59
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Fertility Hymn
1:23
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: The Burning Of Rome
3:41
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Petronius' Banquet, Meditation and Death
4:30
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Ave Caesar
4:50
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Chariot Chase
3:05
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Rozsa: Assyrian Dance
1:55
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Rozsa: Aftermath (Death Of Peter - Death Of Poppea - Nero's Suicide)
5:06
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Rozsa: Hail Galba
1:56
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Rozsa: Finale
4:37

Rozsa: Epilogue
2:58
Royal Philharmonic Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Miklós Rózsa

Rozsa: Julius Caesar - Suite from the Incidental Music
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Bernard Herrmann


The Ides Of March
3:21

Caesar's Ghost
2:48

Approach Of Octavian's Army And Death Of Brutus
6:19