John Morris Russell - Home for the Holidays - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Seattle Symphony’s first holiday album embraces works composed specifically for Christmas as well as other pieces that convey a universal message of peace, love and hope—the essence of humanity’s highest aspirations. Music Director Gerard Schwarz asked two composers, the Symphony’s Composer in Residence Samuel Jones and Seattle Symphony Principal Oboe Ben Hausmann, to “make the music their own” by scoring several of the pieces to retain the unaffected simplicity of these well-known Christmas and concert works. Schwarz joined them in this task, arranging or editing several of the pieces, with the resulting works celebrating the remarkable artistry of the musicians of the Orchestra. In these new settings, recorded entirely in Benaroya Hall, the music emerges with honest, untarnished beauty.

Beautifully arranged instrumental versions of a wide variety of holiday music, from classical numbers to religious songs, to popular songs, well- played on piano and strings. Naxos delivers an exquisite combination of classical and popular Christmas standards on this Christmas compilation.

Superheroes!, the latest from John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops, showcases some of Hollywood's grandest musical scores from recent blockbusters such as the Avengers, the Dark Knight, Iron Man 2, X-Men The Last Stand, Thor, Spider-Man and Captain America The First Avenger, and also features themes from television and film classics including the Adventures of Superman, Wonder Woman, the Incredible Hulk, Batman, Super Friends and more. This action-packed collection, with a special 'appearance' by Adam West, pays tribute to the heroes of our imagination and celebrates the wonderful creativity of Hollywood's most accomplished and acclaimed composers. Also includes the world premiere of the Launch (Conduktor's Theme).