In 1971 John Williams adapted gorgeously for the screen the musical The Fiddler On The Roof. This arrangement is recalled by quite a lot of motives, one of those is the performance of violin solos at the hands of the unforgettable Isaac Stern; this violinist, considered as one of the better of all times, created school and one of his more surpassed pupils is Itzhak Perlman, commissioned violinist on the performance of Williams' already classic score for Schindler´s List (1993), obtaining both a well deserved recognition by their excellent jobs. On account of this collaboration emerged the idea of making a record of movie themes where the included pieces were arranged to be performed at the violin by Perlman under the baton of Williams; the idea curdded and gave as a result this CD. The selection is very good, prevailing very recent themes as Sabrina (1995), the Oscar-awarded Il Postino (The Postman, 1994), or The Age of Innocence (1993), this last one arranged by the own composer, Elmer Bernstein. Almost all the themes are arranged by John Williams (even his own themes), and Angela Morley also has arranged (and very well) other themes as Out of Africa (1985), but what more stands out of all the CD is the incorporation of the theme of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962) composed by André Previn, whom has been called to made the arrangement (a detail that one must take into account, and that shows the caress which everything is worked on this CD); it is a theme of an exquisite sensibility, that already in its origin was composed to be performed at the violin, and that recalls quite a lot in its style to the legendary Miklós Rózsa. Especially relevant are the versions from Il Postino and Far and Away (1992), the first by its emotional and romantic weight, and the second because, knowing the original, the arrangement that Williams makes results fantastic, and that confers it a most classic touch, by saying it somehow, though in reality all the CD is susceptible of this and of be performed in a concert hall. The orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, accompanies Perlman splendidly, and in some instances as in Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus, 1959) a Spanish guitar is complemented effectively with the violin, even I would say that subtracting it quite the main attention. As a curiosity we must say that the CD is opened with The Color Purple (1985), the only one "infidelity" until now of Steven Spielberg with Williams, even though this last upon composing Rosewood (1997), it has demonstrated that it might have been capable of making an extraordinary southerner score, so good as the one which accomplished Quincy Jones and company. Indeed there is no doubt that Williams seems to be in grace state, and that 1997 has been one of his better musical years that will peak with Spielberg's last movie, Amistad. But, Is this man never mistaken?. A.M.

Quincy Jones: The Color Purple (Main Title) [Arrangements: John Williams] - 4:29
Carlos Gardel: Scent of a Woman (Tango - Por una Cabeza) [Arrangements: John Williams] - 3:51
Michel Legrand: Yentl (Papa, Can You Hear Me?) [Arrangements: John Williams] - 4:59
Luis Enrique Bacalov: Il Postino (Theme) [Arrangements: John Williams] - 3:44
Elmer Bernstein: The Age of Innocence (Theme) [Arrangements: Elmer Bernstein] - 4:10
John Williams: Far and Away (Theme) [Arrangements: John Williams] - 5:34
Michel Legrand: Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (I Will Wait For You) [Arrangements: Angela Morley] - 3:43
André Previn: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Theme) [Arrangements: André Previn] - 3:40
John Williams: Sabrina (Theme) [Arrangements: John Williams] - 4:58
John Barry: Out of Africa (Main Title) [Arrangements: Angela Morley] - 3:19
Luis Bonfa: Orfeu Negro (Manha de Carnaval) [Arrangements: John Williams] - 4:13
John Williams: Schindler's List (Theme) - 3:33
Ennio Morricone: Cinema Paradiso (Love Theme) [Arrangements: Angela Morley] - 3:18
Itzhak Perlman (Violin) - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Conductor: John Williams

/ SONY CLASSICAL SK63005 / 54'