Lionel Newman's Film Music of Korngold

tjguitar · Post by **tjguitar** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:18 am

I have just acquired this CD used from amazon.com on the Stanyan Records label. Recorded way back in 1961 by Lionel Newman & the Warner Bros Studio Orchestra.

At the bottom of the front of the booklet it states:

"*Editor's Note: This is the first authorized recording by the Korngold Estate. Recordings have not been previously authorized until such time that the Korngold Estate could be satisfied that Mr. Korngold's music could be faithfully reproduced as they are by Warner Bros. Records' advanced engineering techniques."

Of course being recorded in the 60's, you'd think the sound might not be the greatest, but I couldn't really tell. This sounds nearly as good as the Gerhardt recordings, which were recorded a decade later. Also 13 pages of notes by Bill Collins. Of course the orchestra sounds smaller than some of those newer recordings.

I'm sure most here already have this, but I thought it was a neat find.

Michael Schlechtriem · Post by **Michael Schlechtriem** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:50 pm

Hello tjguitar,

It is not the Warner Orchestra playing on this recording but the "Graunke Symphony Orchestra" of Munich, which today has changed its name in "Munich Symphony Orchestra" .

At the time of this recording this was a small C-Categorie- Orchestra, but a really good one.
Today it is a very good B-Categorie-Orchestra you all know from the Elisabeth and Essex recording with Carl Davis.

Unfotunately there are several mistakes, for example in Kings Row.

I think that this recording was done more or less in a one long day session and there was no great time to make much additional takes.

I have heard rumours, that Lionel Newman was so tired, that the last session, the Robin Hood-Suite, was conducted uncredited by the founder of the Orchestra: Kurt Graunke.

I agree that the sound is good.
But it is not nearly as good as the original LP-Pressings from the Gerhardt recordings.

tjguitar · Post by **tjguitar** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:38 pm

Hello tjguitar,

It is not the Warner Orchestra playing on this recording but the "Graunke Symphony Orchestra" of Munich, which today has changed its name in "Munich Symphony Orchestra" .

Interesting. The booklet credits the Warner Bro Studio Orchestra. I wonder why?

Regardless, Thanks for the info/thoughts!

TJ

Michael Schlechtriem · Post by **Michael Schlechtriem** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:45 am

I do not know why the Booklet credits the Warner Orchestra, which it does, but on the original LP-pressing from 1961 no Orchestra is credited.
I own the same CD as you but also the original LP.

I think that it was a trick not to credit the Orchestra in the first publishing, so everyone could read that Lionel Newman is conducting and of course so it had to be the Warner Orchestra playing there.
Because it was a Warner-Recording.

And the producers of the CD-Reissue just thought the same and took it for granted that this is the Warner Broths. Symphony Orchestra.

But for sure it is the Graunke Symphony Orchestra, Munich.

Best wishes,
Michael

[/quote]