OROzsa Ben-Hur. Original Soundtrack, with the MGM Studio Chorus and Orchestra / Miklös Rdzsa.

EMI Premiere CD CDODEON18 (74 minutes: ADD). Recorded 1959.

Not just MiklOs ROzsa's cinematic masterpiece, but possibly the greatest of all his compositions, and arguably the finest film score yet written, Ben-Hur is a work whose truly epic stature, enormous thematic variety and extraordinary range of emotional expression outshines accepted concerthall staples like Alexander Nevsky. From the opening fortissimo declaration of the centrallyimportant Christ theme to the joyous "Alleluias" of the "Finale" this is music of overwhelming grandeur.

R6zsa's 'Roman' music may be his own very personal interpretation, heavily inflected with his distinctive musical accent — despite all that historical research — but no one else has rendered the power of the imperitun so convincingly, and ROzsa never more so than here. The downtrodden house of Hur is given some of the composer's most moving 'Jewish' themes: the nobility of Judah Ben-Hur's spirit, the passion of his love for Esther, and the gentle nature of his innocently suffering mother and sister. The conflict between these musical opposites is gloriously surmounted by the Christ theme, a redemptive force whose subtle beauty is quite awe-inspiring: first heard in the film arising from harsh, brass-laden dissonance during Judah's trek across the desert, it constitutes the musical voice of the Saviour (he is never heard speaking), bringing renewed hope to our hero.

Although several albums of music from the film have been released since 1959, including MGM's soundtrack album (5/90 — nla) and other rerecordings, this is the first time that the original soundtrack has legitimately been made available in anything like a complete form. As with earlier releases from the MGM archive in this series, the restoration has been accomplished with obvious care and affection. However, this EMI disc, like the Wizard of Oz before it (8/96), is actually only a selection from the complete soundtrack, which has been issued by Rhino Records in the USA in a lavish two-disc package complete with a 52-page illustrated booklet. Whilst not omitting the most memorable scenes, EMI's abbreviated release fails to give due weight to certain parts of the score, including the darker music accompanying Judah's search for his family among the lepers. Rhino's authoritative 150-minute recording, available in the UK as an import, must therefore be first choice for those prepared to stretch their budget a little. EMI's highlights disc represents a compromise that I suspect anyone with the necessary means will not wish to make. Worse, it denies purchasers the opportunity to hear this great score as any great music should be heard: complete. Mark Walker