DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS

CD world premiere for classic 1958 Elmer Bernstein soundtrack to Delbert Mann filming of Eugene O'Neill tale of family rivalry, starring Anthony Perkins, Sophia Loren, Burl Ives. New England farm locale during 19th-Century plus vivid drama inspires Bernstein to avoid standard soap-opera approach. Instead, he fashions unusually dramatic, often violent score with considerable power. Bernstein launches with furious rush of strings from the get-go, then introduces powerful brass chords to anchor intense drama that follows. Rich, dark-hued love theme plays in balance. When score is finished, composer signs off with dynamic fortissimo coda drawn from opening brass chords. Powerhouse Bernstein! Intrada CD offers all contents of 1958 Dot label album as originally presented in mono, courtesy excellent condition masters from UMG vaults. Though it runs just half an hour, Bernstein assembled virtually all of the major highlights into one of his finest early albums. (Fun treat: amongst names on detailed musician roster are Harry Sukman on piano, Gerald Fried on Oboe.) Elmer Bernstein conducts Paramount Pictures Orchestra. Intrada Special Collection release limited to 3000 copies!