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570186bk Snows:570183bk Son of Kong 15/1/08 5:49 PM Page 8 Moscow Symphony Orchestra Home base for Marco Polo’s critically acclaimed Classic Film Score Series, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra has won plaudits for its versatility, tackling everything from orchestrations of beloved rock classics to soundtracks for movies to such intriguing projects as the first-ever cycle of symphonies by Malipiero. It has given numerous performances of classic works by Scriabin, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky and remains one of the busiest orchestras in Russian recording studios today. In reviewing the much-awaited première recording of Bernard Herrmann’s hypnotic score for Garden of Evil (8.223841), conducted by William Stromberg, Mark Koldys of American Record Guide praised it as “a valuable document and a richly rewarding musical experience … easily a contender for the film-music release of the year,” while Gramophone touted it as “an exceedingly welcome issue.” Of the team’s recording of Herrmann’s The Egyptian (Naxos 8.557702), Koldys wrote that “the Moscow ensemble might as well be the 20th Century Fox studio virtuosi, so closely have they replicated that orchestra’s distinctive sound. There isn’t a false step in the pacing, the playing or the superlative sound.” And Andy Cooper of The Leader-Post praised the recording as “a beautifully recorded performance.” William Stromberg A native of Oceanside, California, who hails from a family of filmmakers, William T. Stromberg balances his career as a composer of strikingly vivid film scores with that of a busy conductor in Marco Polo’s Classic Film Score Series. Besides conducting his own scores – including his recent music for the thriller Other Voices and the documentary Trinity and Beyond – Stromberg serves as a conductor for other film composers. He is especially noted for his passion in reconstructing and conducting film scores from Hollywood’s Golden Age, including several works recorded for RCA with the Brandenburg Philharmonic. For Marco Polo and Naxos, Stromberg has conducted albums of music devoted to Max Steiner, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Alfred Newman, Philip Sainton, Adolph Deutsch, Hans J. Salter, Victor Young and Sir Malcolm Arnold. He has also conducted several much-praised Naxos albums devoted to concert works by American composers, including two albums of music by Ferde Grofé. Most recently (2008), he led the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in a massive re- recording of Bernard Herrmann’s Mysterious Island for his and John Morgan’s own label Tribute Film Classics. He is currently preparing a new re-recording of Herrmann’s The Kentuckian, also for Tribute Film Classics. John Morgan Widely regarded in film-music circles as a master colorist with a keen insight into orchestration and the power of music, Los Angeles-based composer John Morgan began his career working as an orchestrator alongside such composers as Alex North, Bruce Broughton and Fred Steiner before embarking on his own composing assignments. Among other projects, he co-composed the richly dramatic score for the cult-documentary film C Trinity and Beyond, described by one critic as “an atomic-age Fantasia, thanks to its spectacular nuclear explosions and powerhouse music.” In addition, Morgan has won acclaim for efforts to rescue, restore and re- record lost film scores from the past, including Hans J. Salter’s spooky House of Frankenstein, Hugo Friedhofer’s M moving The Rains of Ranchipur, Roy Webb’s Cat People and Max Steiner’s The Most Dangerous Game. More recently, Morgan and conductor William Stromberg with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra recorded Y Bernard Herrmann’s Fahrenheit 451 and Walking Distance for their own Tribute Film Classics label. K 8.570186 8 570186bk Snows:570183bk Son of Kong 15/1/08 5:49 PM Page 2 Bernard Herrmann (1911–1975) deviates from the evocation of Harry’s weary, well – even if I say so. Zanuck was most flattering delusional awareness. She eventually breaks through about the music and keeps telling everyone how grand Music for the films after Harry has transited his history with Cynthia in a job I did. flashback; the cue ^ Helen presents new thematic Herrmann then returned his attentions to his The Snows of Kilimanjaro 1952 material, which is long and hopefully lyrical [0:18— magnificent obsession, Wuthering Heights, a project 2:37]. But here is the only chance these ideas have, which was to occupy him the rest of the year. That the 5 Fingers 1952 for Harry soon sinks into the delirium of blood opera would not be staged during his lifetime probably Score restoration by John Morgan poisoning. The oppressive music reasserts itself as would have struck him as appalling and outrageous in Helen begins the death vigil. But, in true Hollywood 1952; letters following the steady stream of rejections fashion, contract players could never face such a grim grew more and more indignant and cynical. Meanwhile The Films end: so a plane arrives, and with a sudden, lurching he worked at what he considered “Plan B”: Hollywood The Snows of Kilimanjaro – popular at the time with interweaving stories are told in flashback. turn the ) Finale rejoices at Harry’s impending films, which would bring him the lasting renown he both critics and audiences – offered the major The finest cast and crew were assembled for recovery – and resuscitated love life. envisioned only in relation to his opera. The elegant ingredients that Darryl Zanuck deemed necessary for Darryl Zanuck’s only personal production of 1952. On 19th June, Herrmann drew the double bar on craftsmanship of 5 Fingers and The Snows of success: showmanship, sex, and adventure. Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward had appeared the Finale. Recording sessions followed on 23rd and Kilimanjaro tempt one to wonder what other concert The story of a man searching for meaning in his together the year before in the highly successful David 24th June and on 1st July. In the following week the works might have been created had Herrmann not so life was a recurring theme in Darryl F. Zanuck pro- and Bathsheba, directed by Snows director Henry soundtrack was mixed and the contract was closed on singly focused on the opera. Though we will never ductions. He had already used it in The Razor’s Edge King. King had also just directed Hayward in I’d 8th July. know, we do have these films – and many others that and would do so again two years later in his multi- Climb the Highest Mountain. Hayward and King Herrmann wrote his lawyer, L. Arnold Weiss- followed – to appreciate his unique style. million dollar production of The Egyptian. But in all would later work on the Fox epic, Untamed. berger, on 21st July 1952: I have just finished The three films he loaded the message with adventure and Gregory Peck and King were old friends – they Snows of Kilimanjaro and my how worn out I am. Ten Christopher Husted daring sex scenes – everything to keep the audience had already worked together on Twelve O’Clock High, full weeks of very hard work, but it turned out very Manager, Bernard Herrmann Music coming back for more. The Gunfighter, as well as David and Bathsheba. King The story begins at a hunting camp beneath the would later direct Peck in such hits as The Bravados mountain of Kilimanjaro in Africa. Harry Street and Beloved Infidel. (Gregory Peck) is lying dangerously near death after Zanuck had long wanted to bring this film to the a hunting accident, attended only by his wife, Helen screen but waited five years for the right script. Casey (Susan Hayward), who has come on the trip hoping Robinson finally wrote one that he liked, but he that Harry will learn to love her. liberally borrowed from The Sun Also Rises and other The story is told as Harry spends his time looking Hemingway stories, so much so that Hemingway back on his life, telling Helen about Connie (Helene complained about it. Hemingway hated the film, Stanley), his first love; his tragic relationship with particularly the hopeful ending (in his story Harry Cynthia (Ava Gardner), who lost a child and left him dies). He referred to it as the “Snows of Zanuck.” But rather than holding him back; his affair with “Frigid Zanuck knew what would make a popular picture. Liz” (Hildegarde Neff); and his subsequent search for Henry King was one of Zanuck’s favorite Cynthia. directors. He had everything – he was good at the big We then come to his relationship with Helen, who moments - look at the color and sweep of The Black Grateful thanks to … thought she could buy his love. As Helen and Harry Swan, Captain from Castile, Prince of Foxes, King of 20th Century Fox, Joanna Beck (Jo Ann Kane Music), Bill Whitaker, Steven C. Smith, Anna Bonn, Rudy come to terms on the plains of Kilimanjaro, the the Khyber Rifles, and Untamed. But he was also good Behlmer, John W. Waxman 8.570186 2 7 8.570186 570186bk Snows:570183bk Son of Kong 15/1/08 5:49 PM Page 6 adventure: in Cicero he opened his relationship with Harry’s idealised love for Cynthia is fastened first to at getting intimate performances from the best actors minute Zanuck decided it was too long. He and Susan the Germans, in The Pursuit, he abruptly closes it. a brief statement of what will become associated with in such films as The Song of Bernadette, Love is a Hayward had recently had a falling out and much of Herrmann completed the 84 pages of full score on his first meeting with Cynthia near Notre Dame Many Splendored Thing, and I’d Climb the Highest her footage was left on the cutting room floor.