One of the things of which we, the good fans of good film music, should be grateful is the possibility to be able to hear, and enjoy, a series of capital scores and authors, both in historical as well musical level, whom for time separation seems a little bit far away of actual tastes. And about that, there will never be enough gratitude for the significance who has the active existence of the sons of two of the more important composers of this century. We are talking, naturally, of George Korngold and John W. Waxman. From Erich Wolfgang Korngold's son, now sadly deceased, all has been said, and all good; he was the one who achieve that his father's forgotten music reach the recognition deserved and, incidentally, revitalize the film-music collector and fan world with his record productions. And now is Franz Waxman's son the one who, through a series of recordings and projects, recover his father's music and serve as sponsor of the medium with his important musical library, Themes and Variations. After his four volumes named Legends of Hollywood, John W. Waxman presents two symphonic poems for narrator and orchestra based on material composed by his father for The Spirit of St.Louis (1957) and The Story of Ruth (1960). Using beautiful texts by poet and theatrical author James Forsyth (whom has already worked with Franz Waxman on his oratorium Joshua), this re-examination of the originally film material becomes very interesting, and a curious complement to his author original intentions, showing up the good work of conductor Lawrence Foster, whose dedication to the film music world is also mentionable.

The Spirit of St.Louis (1957/1993) - 32:52
Ruth (1960/1993) - 25:02
Arrangements by Arnold Freed and John W. Waxman
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester, Berlin - George Shirley (Narrator) - Conductor: Lawrence Foster
CAPRICCIO - 10711 / 58'

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