The Mysterious Film World of Bernard Herrmann National Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Herrmann. Decca & London (LP, 1975); Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (CD, 1996).

Bernard Herrmann entered Kingsway Hall, London, on February 6, 1975, to record what was going to be the last of the four Decca/London albums of suites from his own film music. The series started in 1969 with music from five Hitchcock films, coninued in 1971, and reached it's peak in 1974 with The Fantasy Film World of Bernard Herrmann.

The album starts off with two suites from Mysterious Island (1961) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963), 14 and 11 minutes respectively, and finishes off with a larger 25 minute suite from The Three Worlds of Gulliver (1959) on side two.

The performances of the National Philharmonic Orchestra are first rate as always, following slower tempos than the original soundtracks.

Some flaws has made it's way into the master tapes during the years, and although it's not as good as Mobile Fidelity's release of The Fantasy Film World, this new audiophile release will probably be the best way to experience this classic recording, ever.

The Bernard Herrmann Society. All rights reserved.