Robert See/c'

In common with my previous selections I find myself turning to Charles Gerhardt's priceless "Classic Film Scores- series to kick off this year's choice and I make no apology for including not one but two reissues this time round. "Citizen Kane: The Classic Film Scores Of Bernard Herrmann" is arguably the most musically striking of the series and the superb CD transfer made a fitting appearance in the year of Kane's fiftieth anniversary, whilst the distinctive, rhapsodic voice of MiklOs ROzsa was glowingly evoked in "Spellbound: The Classic Film Scores Of MiklOs ROzsa". The CD of "The Film Themes Of Alex North" was released a few months before the composer's death and though this intimate collection of love themes understandably reveals little of North's dazzling command of orchestral colour, it still makes a timely tribute to a talented musician. So few of Victor Young's scores are currently available that it was a real pleasure to welcome the vivid CD transfer of For Whom the Bell Tolls, a full-blooded example of Hollywood craftsmanship boldly performed by Ray Heindorf and just as brilliantly recorded. Finally, to round off my Choice of 1991,1 must honour two new recordings which continue to yield innumerable pleasures; John Mauceri's warmly idiomatic -Hollywood Dreams", with its particularly magical suite from The Wizard of Oz, and "Classic British Film Music", a sturdy and impeccably produced concert of rarely-recorded scores featuring a totally beguiling reading of Brian Easdale's shimmering ballet music from The Red Shoes.

Herrmann. Gerhardt. RCA 0 II! GD80707 (11/91).

ROisa. Gerhardt. RCA 0 a) GD80911 (5/91).

North. North. 0 (D BCD3010 (I/91).

Young. Heindorf Stanyan lEt (D STZII2 (II/91).

Hollywood Dream. .1.1auceri. Philips 0 L—j 432 I09-4PH; (D 432 109-211-119/91).

Classic British Film Music. Alwyn. Silva Screen IDa F1LMC072; (D Fl LMCD072 (2/91).