A Certain Point of View, Too

Music Album Review: ‘Cinema Serenade 2 – The Golden Age’

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by

Alex Diaz-Granados
in , , , ,

(C) 1999 Sony Classical/Sony Masterworks

Cinema Serenade 2: The Golden Age
Itzhak Perlman, John Williams, Boston Pops Orchestra

Label: Sony Classical/Sony Masterworks

Year of Release: 1999

Genre: Movie themes, Orchestral music, Violin solos, Boston Pops

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Following the success of Cinema Serenade, violinist Itzhak Perlman and conductor John Williams reunited for a second cinematic journey—this time with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Cinema Serenade 2: The Golden Age is a lush, nostalgic tribute to Hollywood’s golden era, evoking the glamour and gravitas of stars like Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn, Ray Milland, and Clark Gable.

The album’s 12 selections are drawn from the emotional heart of classic cinema, featuring themes by legendary composers such as Max Steiner, Miklós Rózsa, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and Victor Young. These arrangements are not mere interpretations—they are acts of reverence, with Perlman’s violin serving as a vessel for longing, memory, and lyricism.

Version 1.0.0

🎻 Track Listing

  1. Now, Voyager – Max Steiner
  2. Casablanca: As Time Goes By – Herman Hupfeld
  3. The Adventures of Robin Hood: Love Theme – Erich Wolfgang Korngold
  4. Modern Times: Smile – Charlie Chaplin
  5. The Lost Weekend: Theme – Miklós Rózsa
  6. The Quiet Man: St. Patrick’s Day – Traditional
  7. My Foolish Heart – Victor Young
  8. Gone With the Wind: Tara’s Theme – Max Steiner
  9. Wuthering Heights: Cathy’s Theme – Alfred Newman
  10. Laura: Theme – David Raksin
  11. Henry V: Touch Her Soft Lips and Part – William Walton
  12. Spellbound: Theme – Miklós Rózsa

As a proud member of the Rick Blaine Society of Rank Sentimentalists, I find myself returning most often to “As Time Goes By” and “My Foolish Heart.” I first heard the former on WTMI 93.1 FM, that beloved classical station now lost to time. The DJ introduced the track with quiet reverence, and as Perlman’s violin began to sing, I felt something shift—something tender and aching. I bought the CD the next day. It remains one of my most cherished recordings.

For admirers of Perlman’s expressive phrasing, Williams’ cinematic sensitivity, or simply the emotional cadence of classic film music, Cinema Serenade 2 is more than an album—it’s a sanctuary.