Heroes, Heroines, Wizards, Monsters

Erich Kunzel: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. "Great Film Fantasies." Music from "Star Wars," "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings." Telarc. A

It’s all here. Well, almost. Kunzel and the Pops have distilled music from a dozen films into 60-minutes worth of heroes, heroines, wizards and monsters on this new Telarc release. Excerpts from "Star Wars, "Harry Potter" and "The Lord of the Rings" recall to the mind’s ear a parade of fantasy folk, including Luke, Leia, Yoda and Anakin, Harry, Hermione and Dumbledore, Frodo, Gandalf and Legolas. It’s a John Williams feast ("Star Wars," "Harry Potter") with a dessert of Howard Shore and Enya ("Lord of the Rings").
   There are 12 cuts from the six "Star Wars" films, including the signature Main Theme, "Princess Leia" and "Cantina Band" from "A New Hope" (Episode IV), "Imperial March" from "The Empire Strikes Back" (V), "Luke and Leia" from "Return of the Jedi" (VI), the chilling "Duel of the Fates" from "The Phantom Menace" with members of the May Festival Chorus (I), "Across the Stars" from "Attack of the Clones" (II) and "Battle of the Heroes" from "Revenge of the Sith" (III).
   From the J.K. Rowling epic come get-acquainted themes from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," the spooky "Chamber of Secrets" from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and the witty send up, "Aunt Marge’s Waltz," from "The Prisoner of Azkaban."
   "The Lord of the Rings" ties the CD up in Celtic knots with "May It Be," "The Hornburg" and "Ride of the Rohirrim" from "Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King," respectively. CD format only (no SACD).
(first published in The Cincinnati Post March 30, 2006)