Dracula (1979)

The adventurous New York label that helped to define the sound of early-1980s left-field dance music celebrates its 30th with a comp.

Vladimir Cosma became a highly regarded and hugely prolific soundtrack composer for the French cinema in the 60s and 70s. Cosma is a stellar example of the rich traditon of French movie composers, from Auric to Delerue to Desplat. Like them, he seems to effortlessly breathe melodies. His music can be lush, it can be spritely. It shimmeres, cascades, and yes, sometimes, it kicks butt. This second box set of his scores, like the first, is a treasure chest for fans of rich, melodic film music.

Some of music’s greatest melodies are found in the soundtracks of John Williams, many of which have been rearranged by the composer for violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. Across the Stars is a true meeting of minds. Mutter’s golden tone fits Williams’ sumptuous tunes like a glove in the beautiful main theme from Schindler’s List and “Across the Stars” from Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, while her technical mastery has inspired Williams to transform “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone into a virtuosic fantasy for violin and orchestra. There are some lesser-known gems here, too, including the soaring “Nice to Be Around” from 1973’s Cinderella Liberty and the grippingly angular “Night Journeys” from the 1979 movie Dracula.