What about the 'Ben-Hur' Orchestral Suite, the 'Spellbound' Concerto, the 'Jungle Book' Suite etc? Or the 'Thief of Baghdad' Suite? And 'Quo Vadis? All are concert works, without Opus numbers, albeit usually closer to the film orchestrations. This Fantasia is similar. Tony Thomas' notes on the Bay Cities CD are less authoritative than Palmer's commentary on the vinyl issue. A tighter performance would be welcome though. Faster.

The CD is notable for its brass marches etc.. The 'Parade of the Charioteers' is clearly the original uncut, complete with proper fanfare, and longer than what's on the OST, with no percussion cluttering up the descending 'horse' fanfares. 'Victory Parade' is uncut too. It was the first album to issue the 'El Cid' 'Wedding Supper' etc.. Great sound.

It's dangerous to imply it's the only score Rozsa thought worthy, because it IS a corny film. One should think about his reputation for taste ... not helped by that movie. In the same way that the Valois CD introduces itself as 'Miklos Rozsa: Ben Hur Suite pour Orchestre et Concertos pour Piano' is worrying, in that a serious conductor, hearing the 'Spellbound' Concerto in cue 1 may simply think, "Oh, this is TOO kitsch" and ignore the far more substantial and fine piano Concerto Op. 31, in cue 3.

There will be exceptions as always, but British people would in general, being closer to everyday Royalty, see 'Young Bess' as a corny affair. Soap. The music si something else of course, but NOT in a style that Rozsa would allow into his Opus list.

The newer release gives you the Varese 'Because of Him' Overture, nowhere else represented. Ideally one would go for the two albums on Varese and Bay Cities that originally made up the compilation, both available, though OOP on CD.

By the way, I've never seen anyone here comment on the Valois release. I quite like it.