The recovery of part of the huge unheard classical material is becoming, with the increase of the available editions, not only in an activity widely praised, but also in an almost inexhaustible fountain of pleasure; hundreds of unknown, scarcely remembered or forgotten scores, are a legacy too much interesting to continue undiscovered, so label MARCO POLO's attitude uncovering material from classics of the size of Steiner, Korngold, Salter, Herrmann or Honegger, is welcomed with true enthusiasm. Its new edition devoted to Max Steiner (whose figure, hugely well known, need no comment), retrieve three excellent and unpublished suites from the same number of excellent motion pictures, beginning with one of the best examples of the composer's RKO period -The Lost Patrol (1934)-, with its abundance of motifs slightly oriental and very viennese. It follows in time, but not on the record, Virginia City (1940), Michael Curtiz's well built western, which shows the perfect understanding of the world and popular american melodies (Dixie, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, etc) inside the european Steiner's style. At last, and second to none, is the terrific score for The Beast Wih Five Fingers (1946), one of Steiner's scarce contributions to the Horror genre, with a very interesting game of dissonances, a peculiar arrangement of a ciaccona by Bach and, of course, the unavoidable Steiner melodies. More, please. M.A.F.

THE LOST PATROL (1934) - 31:21
THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS (1946) - 16:23
VIRGINIA CITY (1940) - 29:17
Arranged and Restored by John Morgan
Moscow Symphony Orchestra - Conductor: William Stromberg

/ MARCO POLO 8.223870 / 77'