Romeo and Juliet - CD | Cliff Eidelman & Royal Scottish National Orchestra | Cinematic Shakespeare Collection

Product Information

• UPC: 4005939575229
• Product Type: Audio CD
• Genre: Classical/Film Score Compilation
• Label: Varèse Sarabande
• Catalog Number: LC 6083
• Conductor/Composer: Cliff Eidelman
• Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
• Recording Location: City Halls, Glasgow
• Recording Dates: August 5 and 6, 1996
• Producer: Robert Townson
• Release Year: 1997

Overview

"Romeo and Juliet" is a magnificent collection of orchestral music from Shakespeare-inspired films, conducted by acclaimed composer Cliff Eidelman with the prestigious Royal Scottish National Orchestra. This album brings together some of cinema's most celebrated musical interpretations of Shakespeare's works, featuring compositions by legendary film composers including William Walton, Nino Rota, Miklós Rózsa, Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, Patrick Doyle, and Alex North. The compilation showcases the dramatic range of Shakespearean narratives through music—from the romantic tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet" to the political intrigue of "Julius Caesar" and the battlefield heroism of "Henry V." The collection concludes with Cliff Eidelman's own extended composition for "The Tempest," creating a comprehensive musical journey through Shakespeare's timeless stories as interpreted for the silver screen.

Product Features

• Format: Audio CD
• Track Count: 13 compositions
• Total Running Time: Approximately 69 minutes
• Recording Quality: Studio recording at City Halls, Glasgow
• Ensemble: Full orchestra with Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus
• Chorus Master: Christopher Bell
• Artwork: Cover painting "Romeo and Juliet" and back cover painting "Ophelia" by Matthew Joseph Peak

Interesting Facts

Musical Heritage:

This album brings together film music spanning multiple decades and styles, showcasing how different composers have interpreted Shakespeare's works through different musical languages—from Walton's quintessentially British sound to Shostakovich's Soviet-era compositions and Rózsa's Hollywood epic style.

Historical Context:

Several of the featured compositions represent landmark moments in film scoring history. William Walton's music for Laurence Olivier's Shakespeare adaptations in the 1940s and 50s helped establish the sound of Shakespearean cinema, while Nino Rota's "Romeo and Juliet" score for Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film became one of the most recognizable film themes ever written.

Cross-Media Adaptation:

Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" selections were originally composed as a ballet score in 1935 before becoming staples in classical concerts and later used in numerous film adaptations, demonstrating how Shakespeare's works inspire art across multiple media.

Conductor's Original Contribution:

The album's finale, Cliff Eidelman's extended 16-minute composition for "The Tempest," represents the conductor's personal interpretation of Shakespeare's magical final play, adding a contemporary voice to the collection of historical film scores.

Track Listing

1. "Processional and Fanfare" from CORIOLANUS (Alex North) - 2:27
2. "Prologue" from HENRY V (William Walton) - 4:31
3. "Overture" from MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Patrick Doyle) - 4:19
4. "A Renaissance Tunepiece" from ROMEO AND JULIET (Nino Rota) - 6:37
5. "Prelude" from RICHARD III (William Walton) - 9:48
6. "Caesar, Now Be Still, Finale" from JULIUS CAESAR (Miklós Rózsa) - 6:29
7. "Ball at the Palace" from HAMLET (Dmitri Shostakovich) - 2:58
8. "The Duel & Death of Hamlet" from HAMLET (Dmitri Shostakovich) - 2:37
9. "Three Fanfares" from RICHARD III (Alex North) - 2:07
10. "The Young Juliet" from ROMEO AND JULIET (Sergei Prokofiev) - 3:56
11. "The Montagues and The Capulets" from ROMEO AND JULIET (Sergei Prokofiev) - 1:50
12. "St. Crispen's Day, Once More Unto the Breach" from HENRY V (Patrick Doyle) - 4:51
13. "THE TEMPEST" (Cliff Eidelman) - 16:34

Technical Information

• Recording Engineer: Jonathan Allen
• Assistant Engineer: Richard Hale
• Mastering Engineer: Bruce Botnick

Publishers

Published by Varèse Sarabande Records, Inc. Manufactured under license from Varèse Sarabande Records, Inc. by Colosseum Schallplatten GmbH, Bayreuthstr. 100, 90471 Nürnberg, Germany.

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