With
Hollywood Soundstage,
John Wilson and his handpicked
Sinfonia of London continue their impressive new life by getting to the roots of the original
Sinfonia: a studio orchestra heard on over 300 soundtrack recordings. One of the main attractions for listeners will doubtless be the
Suite from The Wizard of Oz. Instead of simply cobbling together a suite of hits, the arrangement here is taken from the contributions of the film's arranger and Oscar winner,
Herbert Stothart. The listener is brought through Dorothy's whole exciting ordeal, from MGM's famous opening to an absolutely stunning horn solo
Home, Sweet Home countermelody alongside the orchestra's
Somewhere Over the Rainbow as Dorothy awakens to find herself back home, culminating in a triumphant, quintessentially Golden Age end-credit flourish. The success of the new
Sinfonia of London came right from the start with its recording of
Korngold's Symphony in F sharp, and it is only fitting that
Korngold's work kicks things off here with his
Overture to The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. Once more, the quality of the musicians pieced together by
Wilson shines through in ensemble and solo play, and it is a pleasure to hear as they surmount a plethora of stylistic changes. Another positive for the forces here is
Wilson's enthusiasm for the music, including assembling his own suite from
Max Steiner's score for the film
Now, Voyager, which contains a beautiful passage of interplay between the strings, harp, and vibraphone. For fans of Hollywood's Golden Age, especially for those with an affinity for brass showcases, this will be a wonderful album to add to your collection. ~ Keith Finke
