I was lucky enough to get a copy with the big VARESE Sale. THANK YOU VARESE SARABAND! One of the great things about being a newer film score fanatic and collector is listening to and "discovering" so much amazing music from films I have loved, but never paid attention to scores, and films that suck that have great scores. Especially, really listening for the first time to scores from movies I've watched several times esp as a youngster. This is one of them. Loved this movie since I was a little kiddo. Listened to both cd's straight last night and was completely blown away by North's magic. This music is STILL so very modern-what a mind!! I believe I'm still in shock. "The Coronation" just freaked me out-I thought I was listening to a Bjork instrumental track!
Must agree with your opinion of North's absolutely stunning score. And yes, surely the best 3.99 ever spent. Mine was about 30 euros and I don't regret a cent of it. It's one of those scores which might seem daunting as a 2-CD listen, but I'm always enthralled by it from beginning to end. It grabs me and keeps me hooked much more easily than so many 30 or 40 minute score releases.
Another one that does that is Alfred Newman's sublime THE ROBE. I'm not saying they're using the same idiom, but the hypnotic effect throughout a 2-hour sitting is similar.
This beautiful release of CLEOPATRA is a bargain at any price. I love that horns North used sound similar to the trumpets found in Tutankhamun's tomb (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt9AyV3hnlc) . The Entrance into Rome track is probably my single favorite track of film music. His Dragonslayer score is also worth seeking out.
