Queen - A Night At the Symphony
Written: Feb 09 '07 (Updated Apr 15 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The best of this genre
Cons: Including songs from Queen's back catalogue that do not translate well into a symphony arrangement.
The Bottom Line: Part of the Lean and Mean W/O. 500 words on the nose.
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| scapp70's Full Review: Queen-Anyway the Wind Blows by Pomeriggi Musicali ... |
I must admit that I am usually not a fan of these types of symphonic tributes to rock artists. Although, when it has to do with the band Queen, I am usually at the store buying the CD regardless. I have now a small collection of around ten different CDs that can be classified under Queen: Orchestrated.
This Italian orchestra based in Milan had a mission of bringing classical music closer to the line of mainstream popular culture by crossing over into different types of music with a classical orchestra. This CD is now hard to find, I suppose it hasn't caught on. Yet having said that, this is my favorite of the lot that fall under the Queen: Orchestrated category.
The main thing that sets this collection of movements apart from the others is the inclusion of more obscure Queen songs. Songs from their album Queen II are included here, songs that wouldn’t appear anywhere else other than the original Queen album. Procession, the opener for Queen II is a brief instrumental fanfare with Brian May's signature orchestrated layered guitars that simulate the instruments of an orchestra, as he did often in the mid 70s. It sounds wonderful as conducted by Stefano Martinotti as he brings to life a vision from Brian May with delicate color and authenticity.
Also from Stefano Martinotti we hear renditions of The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke and Nevermore, two more compositions from the Queen II album. Originally written by Freddie Mercury, these songs already had lots of drama and it translates well to this orchestrated swing. He completes this medley via segue with the a capella section from Brian May's The Prophet's Song. The original vocal section was Freddie Mercury with two of his spaced echoes chasing the guide vocal. Here it is done with the orchestra beautifully, three single instruments complimenting each other with a dreamlike flow.
There are also the mandatory inclusions of some of their greatest hits. With the exception of songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, or Who Wants To Live Forever, most of their greatest hits sound a little silly. For instance, Another One Bites The Dust, or We Will Rock You do not, or better still cannot translate into the symphonic realm.
The CD is worth a listen more than anything for the obscure songs like My Melancholy Blues, Doing All Right and the lot. It is really the main aspect which sets this apart from the others. This isn’t the first Queen CD like this and it will not be the last.
the songs
1. Bohemian Rhapsody/Under Pressure
2. Play The Game
3. Save Me
4. We Will Rock You
5. Procession
6. Another One Bites the Dust
7. The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke/Nevermore/The Prophet’s Song
8. Who Wants To Live Forever
9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
10. Doing All Right
11. A Kind of Magic
12. Life Is Real (tema) / Life is Real (Variazone) / Life is Real (Passacaglia)
13. Sleeping On The Sidewalk
14. My Melancholy Blues
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
scapp70
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Member: Michael Scapp
Location: NYC
Reviews written: 468
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STOP Obama on 'NET NEUTRALITY'! Too much power = corruption!
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