Whilst writing film scores and playing jazz dates and classical events all over the world, Roy Budd had always harboured the dream to write the music for the 1925 silent film classic, The Phantom of the Opera. In June 1993, he finally finished writing, orchestrating and recording his music.
The symphonic score was his last composition before his untimely death in 1993, shortly before he was due to conduct his new creation, with an orchestra of 84 musicians at the Barbican, London, then The Paris Opera and The Berlin Opera. Along with the DVD release of the film, this is the first time Roy Budd's final score has been released to the public for their enjoyment. The CD booklet also includes exclusive photos of Roy conducting and editing the music for The Phantom of the Opera.
"The original Phantom film has been waiting 70 years for the masterpiece score it has always really deserved. Roy Budd has provided such a masterpiece", quote from Music For The Movies, 1993.
"Roy's score for The Phantom is exceptional. It enhances the pantomime of the original classic of Lon Chaney no end. I'm sure Chaney himself would be very pleased", quote from Ray Harryhausen, Visual Effects Creator, Writer and Producer, 1994. (Roy Budd composed the score for Sinbad and The Eye of the Tiger, a Ray Harryhausen film.)
A musical child prodigy from the age of 4, Roy worked prolifically in the film industry, and in addition to Get Carter, created 40 film scores including such classics as The Sea Wolves, Wild Geese I & II, Kidnapped, Who Dares Wins and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. Mishka Productions are delighted to finally be able to bring his last work to his many fans.
COMPOSED AND CONDUCTED BY: Roy Budd
PERFORMED BY: RTL Symphony Orchestra
