OK...I rented "Phantom of the Opera" on blu-ray. While some of the songs dragged on (and on, and on, and on) the one thing I took away from it was how AMAZING the opening sounded with the organ and orchestra. Could you recommend some organ/orchestral music? I'm not terribly interested in solo organ, but something like the begining of Phantom would be terrific.

Thanks!

What a great question. I'm sure I'm not the only one eagerly awaiting the reply.

JohnK, how was the Whopper ?

Well Craig, I had no idea what this was about, so when I got some time I listened to samples from the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack album at Amazon. Although you say organ/orchestral more than solo organ, what the samples had, especially the overture, was the organ with a heavy drum-beat accompaniment. Lots of solo organ around, of course, such as Michael Murray's "Organ Blaster" recordings. When organ with orchestra is brought up though, my first thought is the Saint-Saens Symphony no. 3("Organ Symphony"), which you should certainly have in your collection. A fine hybrid SACD taken from concerts inaugurating their new organ in Philadelphia also includes other works for organ with orchestra in addition to the Saint-Saens and might be along the lines of what you're looking for.

Whopper still unknown to me despite all advertising efforts, John B.

What is it that prevents you from allowing yourself to be whopped? Bad experience with the malted milk balls?

Thanks John, I knew you'd come though.

btw...after viewing that video about the whopper, Roger and I headed out to BK...sadly dissapointed. Whoppers simply aren't as good as we remembered them as kids. Bleck.

I think you'll find that happens with ANYTHING you remember from childhood. That's the great thing about getting older. You get to finally realize how crappy it all is. Ha ha.

Some things hold up. I recently started re-reading Daredevil issues 158-191...they're actually even better than I remembered.