Posted on 05/01/2004 8:04:55 AM PDT by maquiladora
As any fule no, the fantabulous four-disc extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King will debut later this year. But for those of you doing decent Gollum impressions – "we wanttsss it!" – Empire can exclusively reveal that one more superb LOTR extra is on its way, ready to sate those Rings withdrawal symptoms.
Howard Shore's Oscar-winning scores for the three movies, easily ranking amongst the very best soundtracks of recent times, has up until now only been granted a single CD release for each film. Now, Empire is no Carol Vorderman, but we calculate that that means that more than six hours of the score [more than eight if you factor in the Extended Editions] remains unreleased.
Well, that's going to change next year, when Shore plans to release a suitably epic nine-disc set of his most famous work. And, just as the two-disc DVDs pale in comparison to the Extended Editions, so too will the CDs.
“The plan is that we would feature all of the music in the theatrical cuts of the films," said Shore, talking exclusively to Empire. "Currently, two discs for [the first], three each for [the second and third films] and a ninth disc of rarities with host of rare, unreleased music from the films with commentary from me.”
The DVD would also feature material covering Shore’s recent transfer of the trilogy’s music to a live concert setting, The Lord Of The Rings Symphony. “The DVD would also potentially have a 45-minute documentary which we shot on the making of the Symphony and full performance of it done with the Montreal Symphony," he added.
First performed in Wellington in November last year, Shore is currently on an international tour with the show, reaching London for a performance with The London Philharmonic Orchestra at The Royal Festival Hall on 23 May and then returning to The Royal Albert Hall on 22 September.
“It’s very gratifying to see the see the music from [the films] find a new life on the concert stage.” said Shore. “I don’t think there’s ever been a full concert piece of this size devoted to one particular film or series.”
For those fans who miss out on the London shows, don't fret: Shore also confirmed to Empire that a two-disc CD release of the show is also in the works for release next year.
You can find a nice bunch of maps at tolkeintown.com --- they have that boxed game set I mentioned, and a poster that looks a lot like the one I had framed.
I have also purchased a journal set--very, very pretty--with Gondorian and Fellowship motifs. It's a journal-inside-a-faux-book, with a nice bookmark as an extra. $29.95. You must write "Dear Diary" in Tengwar.
Favorite coffee table movie books--"The Art of (FOTR/TT/ROTK), and the weapons and armour book.
If you didn't make it to the Lord of the Rings Symphony concert in Phila last night you can see the show with the Hartford Symphony (I think it is the only performance in New England). Tickets and info can be found at www.hartfordsymphony.org
Cheers!
THAT'S the one I want to have on a recording!! I was so disappointed when it wasn't on the FoTR Soundtrack, and when they mentioned an extra track on TTT, I thought it might be that, but it was the Departure from Lothlorien that was featured.
I just noticed in the list above that there will be a performance in HARTFORD!! That's only an hour from me, but it takes place on the weekend that our Parish has it's Family Festival, for which I am one of the Event Chairmen!! I'll have to see if someone can take over the Grille for that Sunday afternoon! WOO HOO!!!!
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