The Film Music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Volume 2

January 2008

“The suite leaves no doubt as to the giddy fecundity and awesome architectural sweep of Korngold's exhilarating canvas. …the orchestral playing under Gamba's judiciously paced lead has a sophisticated sheen, appropriate sense of spectacle… whole-hearted commitment that testify to the BBC Philharmonic's unimpeachable credentials in this repertoire...”

2010

“Rumon Gamba's 77-minute suite in six parts from Korngold's towering score for The SeaHawk (1940) sensibly follows the action and will leave no listener in any doubt as to the giddy fecundity of top-flight invention and awesome architectural sweep of Korngold's exhilarating canvas. All the big set pieces are here, not least the unforgettable choral recapitulation of the main title ('Strike for the shores of Dover!'), while the gorgeous love music for Thorpe and Dona Maria is always most touchingly attended to (for a taster try track 14, 'Rose Garden').
Suffice to say, the orchestral playing under Gamba's judiciously paced lead has a sophisticated sheen, appropriate sense of spectacle (stellar brass contribution, as ever from this source) and whole-hearted commitment that testify to the BBC Philharmonic's unimpeachable credentials in this repertoire.
Apart from one jarringly audible page-turn, Chandos's production values leave nothing to be desired; indeed, the sound is gloriously wideranging, sumptuous and detailed. Throw in a particularly handsome booklet and it will by now be clear that every true Korngold fan should make haste to this terrific release.”