Music : Ultimate Star Trek

Rating: - Simply the best orchestral compilation of the STAR TREK musi
This album has been produced well with a fine selection from STOS, STNG, DS9 and STVOY. Even thow its not the original score its a must have for anyone likeing star trek or orchestral music.

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Rating: - What's happened?!?
After the terrific sounding cover versions of previous years ( Patton, Midway, The Sand Pebbles) we have come to expect high standards from Varese Sarabande. What, then, has happened on this particular compilation album? Admittedly, the selections conducted by Jerry Goldsmith & Fred Steiner, with the Royal Scottish & Royal Philharmonic respectively, are outstanding; the ensemble playing is tight, exciting and thrilling with both conductors demonstrating great control over these two large orchestras. Things start to go wrong, however, with the selections directed by Cliff Eidelman & Fredric Talgorn. Eidelman's tempi fluctuate so often that at one point in Star Trek V the string section of the Seattle Symphony seem to be in a complete panic. There are also some very noticeable 'splashes' from the brass section in certain tracks (Star Trek IV). Talgorn's selections fair no better with his overly aggressive take on Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful Insurrection theme (beware the Trombone) which also,by contrast, has a painfully slow middle section. I feel slightly let down by this lack-luster presentation (knowing what Varese are really capable of) but the CD is worth purchasing if only for the exceptional Goldsmith/Steiner recordings.