Rozsa: Three Choral Suites [Ben Hur, Quo Vadis, King Of Kings]

• Main performer: Miklós Rózsa
• Booklet languages: English
• Time: 87:19
• Release Date: 2005

Review

Coupling Miklós Rózsa's own recordings of his two best-known Romans vs. Christians movie scores is the raison d'être of this Vocalion disc from Dutton Laboratories -- and an excellent reason at that. Quo Vadis the film was released in 1950; Quo Vadis the score was recorded with the composer conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus in London's Kingsway Hall in 1977. Ben Hur the film was released in 1957; Ben Hur the score was recorded with the composer conducting the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus in Walthamstow Town Hall in 1976. Both scores are Rózsa at his blood and thunder best: in both, the Christians are devout and virtuous, the Romans are proud and cruel, and the music is loud and pseudo-antique. Actually, the music comes in various shades of antique: brutally, bombastically antique for the Romans; austerely, sincerely antique for the Christians; excitingly, exhilaratingly antique for the chariot chases and races; and, sublimely, spiritually antique for Saint Peter in Quo Vadis and Jesus in Ben Hur. And in both, the orchestras play with tremendous energy, both choirs sing with terrific enthusiasm, andRózsa conducts with complete control and unstoppable vigor. Originally recorded by Decca in what was then called "Phase Four Stereo Sound," the sound of Michael Dutton's digital remastering is unbelievably vivid, unbearably immediate, and overwhelmingly present. As movie soundtrack reissues go, it doesn't get any better than this. ~ James Leonard, Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Prelude)	2:11
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Marcus and Lygia)	4:02
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Fertility Hymn)	1:27
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (The Burning of Rome)	3:44
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Petronius' Banquet - Meditation and Death)	4:33
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Ave Caesar)	4:53
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Chariot Chase)	3:09
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Assyrian Dance)	1:59
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Aftermath (Death of Peter - Death of Poppae - Nero's Suicide))	5:10
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Hail Galba)	1:59
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Finale)	4:39
Miklós Rózsa	Quo Vadis, film score (Epilogue)	2:53
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Fanfare to Prelude - Star of Bethlehem - Adoration of the Magi)	7:54
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Friendship)	3:51
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (The Burning Desert)	5:21
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Arrius' Party)	1:44
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Rowing of the Galley Slaves)	2:38
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Parade of the Charioteers)	3:31
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (The Mother's Love)	2:51
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Return to Judea)	2:31
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Ring for Freedom)	2:51
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Leper's Search for the Christ)	3:10
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Procession to Calvary)	4:45
Miklós Rózsa	Ben-Hur, film score (Miracle and Finale)	5:33

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