Erich Wolfgang Korngold's soundtrack for The Sea Hawk is among his most highly regarded and influential scores, and its extraordinary post-Romantic richness and modern complexity mark it as a creative highpoint in his career and an artistic pinnacle of Hollywood film music. The 106 minutes
Korngold composed have been edited by conductor
Rumon Gamba into a suite of nearly 77 minutes for this 2007 release; listeners should be aware that this version is substantially shorter than the nearly contemporary Naxos recording of The Sea Hawk by
William T. Stromberg and the
Moscow Symphony Orchestra, which is virtually complete. That said, the full flavor of
Korngold's epic music still can be appreciated in this condensed form, and the energetic performance by the
BBC Philharmonic and the Manchester Chamber Choir conveys all the heroism, flamboyance, and drama of the 1940 film, a classic swashbuckler that starred Errol Flynn. The playing here is bold and fiery, as well as lush and shimmering, and the orchestra gives its all to re-create
Korngold's imaginative scenes, playing with emotional intensity and sensitivity to the rapid changes of character in the music.
Gamba may have made some tough choices in organizing the suite, but he seems to have included all the essential music, and newcomers to
Korngold will find much to admire in this vivid recording. Chandos' reproduction is full and warm, with great depth and marvelous tone colors.