Cinema Serenade

Cinema Serenade, featuring acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman, John Williams and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, is a beautiful 13-track collection of movie themes by such famous composers as Elmer Bernstein, Michel Legrand, John Barry, Andrea Morricone, Luis Bonfa, Andre Previn and, of course, Williams.

Because the featured solo instrument is a violin, producer John Frost, Williams and Perlman chose themes that, with the exception of the Gardel tango "Por Una Cabeza" (heard in Scent of a Woman) and Williams' Irish-styled "Theme from Far and Away," are sentimental, stately and even melancholic. Listen to the plaintive "Papa Can You Hear Me?" from Yentl or "Theme from Schindler's List" (both evocative of European Jewish music), or the haunting "I Will Wait For You" from Michel Legrand's "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" with closed eyes and an open heart...I don't think there is anything more moving than Perlman's performance of those beautiful themes.

Williams conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with his usual golden touch, and although some of the arrangements in this CD have been tweaked to highlight Perlman's violin, the effect is not at all detrimental. Indeed, this is one of the best albums of the genre. Along with Cinema Serenade 2, it is a must-have CD for lovers of classic film scores.


Williams, Perlman, film scores...who could want more?   December 3, 2003
Alex Diaz-Granados (Miami, FL United States)
Film scores have been a passion of mine since I first heard John Williams' unforgettable score for Star Wars at the age of 14. Since then I have become acutely aware of movie themes and orchestral music's ability to affect one's perceptions and emotions. As a result, my musical collection includes many CDs of music by composers such as James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith and, of course, maestro Williams.
Cinema Serenade, featuring acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman, John Williams and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, is a beautiful 13-track collection of movie themes by such famous composers as Elmer Bernstein, Michel Legrand, John Barry, Andrea Morricone, Luis Bonfa, Andre Previn and, of course, Williams.

Because the featured solo instrument is a violin, producer John Frost, Williams and Perlman chose themes that, with the exception of the Gardel tango "Por Una Cabeza" (heard in Scent of a Woman) and Williams' Irish-styled "Theme from Far and Away," are sentimental, stately and even melancholic. Listen to the plaintive "Papa Can You Hear Me?" from Yentl or "Theme from Schindler's List" (both evocative of European Jewish music), or the haunting "I Will Wait For You" from Michel Legrand's "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" with closed eyes and an open heart...I don't think there is anything more moving than Perlman's performance of those beautiful themes.

Williams conducts the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with his usual golden touch, and although some of the arrangements in this CD have been tweaked to highlight Perlman's violin, the effect is not at all detrimental. Indeed, this is one of the best albums of the genre. Along with Cinema Serenade 2, it is a must-have CD for lovers of classic film scores.


Two very enthusiastic 'thumbs up'.   January 30, 2001
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

With music like this, who needs speech? The language of 'Cinema Serenade' and Perlman's mastery of it banishes words.


This is as good as it gets...   August 3, 2000
Philip Herlihy (London)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Not the sort of stuff I usually buy - I wouldn't have given it as second glance if I hadn't overheard it being played in a record shop. This is "easy listening" without doubt, but easy listening with a mesmerising depth of lyricism and warmth. The pieces are all beautifully and ingeniously arranged, avoiding sentimentality; the recording is superb, and you simply cannot find better fiddle playing. There should be prizes for CDs this good. Life-affirming...