Itzhak Perlman & John Williams
Cinema Serenade 2 (Sony Classical 60773)

Beautiful melodies, lush arrangements, lyrical violin solos, big name performers, and the people's love of classic movies. BOR-ing!

Williams, of course, is known for his derivative but enjoyable film scores (Star Wars and Close Encounters among others), while Perlman has always walked the fine line between "real" and "popular" classical performance … he's certainly a virtuoso of the highest order but that doesn't mean that you have to respect everything he does. As he gets older he veers ever more steadily away from challenging material and toward the stuff that will line the coffers – and can you blame him?

Perlman has a higher name-recognition factor than most classical performers, perhaps owing to crossover releases like this one, which are undeniably gorgeous and classy, but seem empty of spirit. Classic movie music from cinema's golden age – "Laura," "Gone With the Wind," "As Time Goes By," "Wuthering Heights" (sadly, not the Kate Bush song) – sure it's pretty, but personally I don't know how to approach it.

When I want to listen to classical music I put on some real classical music. There's nothing "too highbrow" about Vaughan Williams, for example, or Bach, or Schubert. I guess it's just that the masses are intimidated by things they think are too difficult.

Movie music is easy to access, and this stuff especially is warm and inviting. So for what it's worth, this is a beautiful disc, full of impeccable playing and familiar tunes – even music from movies I've never seen is recognizable ("Now Voyager," "The Adventures of Robin Hood," "The Quiet Man"). But as pretty as it all is, there's no fire. There's a lot of "drama" and "passion," but you'd really have to be one of those Sleepless in Seattle types who mist up at old movies and say things like "They really don't make 'em like that anymore."

It's a heartwarming disc, made for dinner parties and CD collections of people who can't buy taste. It's something to give your granmama for her birthday, or to celebrate the fifth anniversary of your grandad's horrifying death in a cable car accident. She's a rock, your granmama. Even after Larry Jr. pawned her respirator for booze money, she picked up and went on with her life. Well, at least until half an hour later when she fell into the coma.

Granmama, I'm sorry, but you'll be happier in heaven. Someday when we're sitting at the Golden Throne together, you'll thank me for pulling the plug.

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Review by Vonda Screw