When it comes down to great re-recordings some forget about including this one in the group. Sure, there are a few tempo changes and a couple of flubbed notes but as a whole this is one faithful re-recording that took a lot of man-hours to complete, which included reconstructing the score from scratch using Williams original sketches. I can’t imagine how much work was thrown into doing just that. Kudos to the forgotten heroes of this release; the reconstruction orchestrators – Kevin Kaska, Brad Dechter, Don Nemitz, Frank Bennett and Larry Dominello.
The sound of this recording is quite impressive. I do like a majority of the recordings that come from these Varese/RSNO albums and I would put this recording near the top of the list. You get just over 90 minutes of music, which includes all of the major highlights (I for one would say that the entire score is one GIGANTIC highlight) including at the time the previously unreleased “The Helicopter Sequence” featuring one of my favourite moments in the score. It’s a short performance of the Superman main theme as Superman flies away from Lois after rescuing her from the falling chopper. Right after she faints on the roof of the Daily Planet we cut to a wide shot of Metropolis. Superman enters the frame and Williams starts up the march. The brass gets to make the first statement of the theme but then enters a lone french horn that gets to finish the call in the high register. It’s that french horn that gives me goosebumps and I look forward to that one moment every time I see the movie or listen to the score!
Earlier on, Debney brings heart and warmth to the first disc which represents the Krypton and Smallville sequences. Williams brilliant tearjerkers “Johnathan’s Death” and “Leaving Home” are superbly performed with as much passion as the original recording with the London Symphony Orchestra. Such genuine tenderness, love and care you don’t get from modern-day summer blockbusters!
Superman is one of the all time greatest scores and thanks to Varese, the reconstruction orchestrators, John Debney and the RSNO we get to hear this masterpiece for the very first time in brilliant crystal clear digital sound! I highly recommend that everyone pick up this recording even if you own the original soundtrack recording.
Superman: The Movie / Music composed by John Williams / Conducted by John Debney / Performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Varèse Sarabande – VSD2-5981
Great review for a great film such as this! Really a nice movie superman. I have read your other posts which are really informative. Thank for share.