BERNARD HERRMANN: The Battle of Neretva, complete (1969); The Naked and the Dead, highlights (1958) – Moscow Sym. Orch. / William T. Stromberg – Tribute Film Classics

BERNARD HERRMANN:  The Battle of Neretva,  complete (1969);  The Naked and the Dead, highlights (1958) – Moscow Sym. Orch./ William T. Stromberg – Tribute Film Classics TFC1007 [www.tributefilmclassics.com], 77:16 *****:
Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975) was a multi-talented musician, composer, conductor and player whose reputation today hinges largely, though not exclusively, on his film scores.  His association with Alfred Hitchcock and their falling-out is well-documented.  Some regarded him difficult to work with; perhaps he simply was not a push-over when asked to alter his very carefully thought out work.  For example, having tried to interest Eugene Ormandy into performing his Symphony (1942) after a successful New York première, he was informed that would be possible only if the work was shortened by 15 minutes.  He declined the offer.
Herrmann’s film music has little if any difficulty standing on its own two feet, divorced from the celluloid for which it was intended.  Certainly, I found the score for “The Battle of Neretva” as presented here, told its own powerful story when I decided to make a first listen blind, as it were, having perhaps seen the film as a youngster but having no recollection of it.  What strikes the listener forcibly is Herrmann’s facility and genius using all sections of the orchestra, especially the percussion section.  This score calls for huge (and expensive) forces with an orchestra of nearly a hundred players, including 52 strings and 6 percussionists.
Released in 1969, this film tells of the early 1943 battle in the Balkans between the Axis forces and the Yugoslav Partisan forces whom the Germans felt would facilitate an Allied invasion via the Balkans, and the action revolves around bridges over the River Neretva.  Starring Yul Bryner, Hardy Krüger, Curt Jürgens, Silva Koscina, Orson Welles and Franco Nero, directed by Veljko Bulajic and produced by Steve Previn (André Previn’s older brother), and shot on location, the film was nominated for an Oscar.
The final seventeen or so minutes of this CD involves music from Norman Mailer’s “The Naked and the Dead”, another wartime tale.  Directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Cliff Robertson,  Aldo Ray, Barbara Nichols and Raymond Massey, and made on location in Panama in 1958, this is a tale of inter-relationships and a study in character.
There aren’t ready-made orchestral parts for these film scores, and as has happened so often already reconstruction of the score has been a labour of love for John Morgan,  Anna Bonn and William Stromberg, who also marshalled all of the forces of the orchestra.
The Moscow Symphony Orchestra, bolstered up with players from other nearby orchestras, gives a powerful performance, greatly concentrated in atmosphere.  Recorded during October 2010 at  Mosfilm Studio in Moscow, the acoustic has been kept suitably dry.  Due to this, the percussion parts come across with crystal clarity and stunning realism. The upper strings sound rich and full without the comfort blanket of lots of reverberation, and the orchestra’s ensemble in conditions laying it bare, is just breath-taking.  What a credit to conductor and players! Sound quality from a standard CD is excellent – at times I wondered whether I was listening to a higher resolution.  I can only imagine how good a 24/96 download would sound.
Tribute Film Classics also takes a good deal of trouble over the accompanying booklet. Printed on high-quality paper and well-illustrated, the wealth of information about the whole project, Bernard Herrmann and the two films is exemplary – this really is a deluxe product and is unreservedly recommended!
TrackLists:
Battle of Neretva: Prelude; Nazi Attack; Retreat; Dawn; The Poem Rout; From Italy;The Flag; Tanks; The Road; Pastorale; March: Grief; The Trestle; Suspense; The Lookout; Death Hunt; The Bridge; The Message; Waiting; Hunt Scherzo; Danica’s Death; The Front; Battle and Fanfares; Separation; Italian; Slow March; Riva’s Death; Finale; End Title
The Naked and the Dead: Prelude; The Jungle; The Snake; The Buzzards; The Grenades; The Pass; Wilson’s Death; The Mountain Ledge; The Fall; The Fog; Croft’s Death; Prayer and Rescue; Finale
—Peter Joelson