National PO Bernard Herrmann Symphony

Like the Third, Arnell’s second symphony is also, more or less, a “war symphony” (Rufus is the pseudonym under which it was submitted for a composition competition). Written in 1942 but revised in 1944, it has a long, tragic slow movement surrounded by fast outer movements whose mood ranges from optimism to resolve. The composer notes an affinity with Hindemith in the first movement but we are reminded of contemporary American symphonies in the finale. The concerto dates from 1946, commissioned by CBS (whose musical director, Bernard Herrmann, was Arnell’s friend). The piece ….

Ralph Vaughan Williams' A London Symphony, otherwise known as the Symphony No. 2 in G major, was composed between 1911 and 1913, and premiered in 1914. After the score was lost in the mail, reconstructed from the short score and orchestral parts, and revised twice, the symphony was published at last in 1920, though it was ultimately replaced by the definitive version in 1936, with cuts to the about 20 minutes of the original material. This recording by Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Symphony Orchestra presents the 1920 version, along with three short works, Sound sleep for female voices and small orchestra, Orpheus with his lute for voice and orchestra, and the Variations for brass band. The filler pieces are delightful rarities that Vaughan Williams specialists will find of some interest, though most listeners will prize this recording for the energetic and colorful performance of the symphony, which is one of the composer's most vivid and satisfying works.

Bernard Herrmann: The Filma Scores – Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; Esa Pekka Salonen, conductor
Classical | Film Music | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 357 MB | FLAC+LOG+M3U+Cue | Full scans | 3 RS links
Publisher: Sony Classical

Amazon.com essential recording
Over the years, and thanks to the CD revolution, film music has come into its own. Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975) has given us some of the most distinct film scores of any composer. As the lists of titles show, Herrmann did a number of Alfred Hitchcock movies–Psycho, Marnie, North by Northwest, Vertigo, and Torn Curtain. What is remarkable is how these works cohere as atmospheric tone poems. Fahrenheit 451: Suite for Strings, Harps, and Percussion has the same kind of atmospherics as some of Arnold Bax's tone poems of the 1930s. This music does not need a visual medium. It's that good. –Paul Cook
Hermann was one of the great film music composers of all time, and his scores fit naturally into a great and illustrious tradition, nowhere more so than in this award-winning recording. –David Hurwitz

Here are two works (one for choir the other for orchestra) seemingly kindred in their inspiring spark: the tragedy of the Twin Towers and 9-11. The notes tell us much first-hand about September Symphony but hardly anything about Lament. This a cappella piece is for mixed choir. It is reverential, awed and with the warming subtle sustaining tone of Stanford's Bluebird blended with Rachmaninov's Vespers. There is absolutely nothing dissonant about it - in fact you might liken it to an East European Tavener or Rutter…………

Rob Barnett @ musicwb-international.com

Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975) - The Film Scores
Esa-Pekka Salonen / Los Angeles Philharmonic
PS3 SACD ISO (2.0): 3,07 GB | 24B/88,2kHz FLAC (2.0): 1,31 GB | Full Artwork: 168 MB | Recovery Info & Volume
Label/Cat#: Sony SRGR-744 | Country/Year: Japan 2001 | Genre: Classical, Stage & Screen | Hoster: Filepost/Filefactory

… If you are sold on the SACD format and own a high end system, then by all means grab this disc in its latest incarnation. If you already own it and enjoy it in normal stereo, there's no need to rush out and replace it. But either way, you should own it: you'll find the best available recordings of the music from Psycho, Torn Curtain, and above all, a truly shimmering and mesmerizing account of the suite from Farhenheit 451. I guess the lesson here is simple: great performances and great sound manifest themselves in any format. Period.

Anton Bruckner - Symphony No. 4
London Symphony Orchestra / Bernard Haitink
PS3 SACD ISO: 4,06 GB (2.0/5.1) | EAC Rip, FLAC LOG & CUE: 251 MB (2.0) | 24B/88,2kHz FLAC (2.0): 1,07 GB | Lossless Artwork: 110 MB | Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: LSO Live LSO0716 | Country/Year: UK 2011 | Genre: Classical | Hoster: Filepost/Filefactory

…The LSO play with their customary precision and refinement, which goes a long way in music that can often be so ethereal and uplifting as Bruckner's. And when the orchestra get a chance to come into full bloom in the biggest crescendos and fortissimos, they sound wonderful, especially with Haitink guiding them so evenhandedly…