Great music played by a great group of musicians. A must buy!

I can't believe I hadn't heard this symphony until now. I too was skeptical of the orchestra, but I ended up being blown away by the quality of the sound and production. This was how The Lord of the Rings music should be remembered: without the dramatic cues and other distortions films require, but with the beating heart and soul (and not to mention all the themes and melodies) of the original music. Absolutely stunned. Goosebumps and hair raises galore.

This sounds AMAZING!!!

That was one of the most amazing musical experiences I have ever had the pleasure to share in. Thank you very much Howard Shore and all who worked with him for this wonderful work of art.

I have become a huge fan of Lord of the Rings! This album drags me deeper into Middle-Earth. You will not regret your purchase.

I love all of Howard's work and this is among my favorites. But be warned if you start listening to this you will have the sudden urge to go on a adventure. Nonetheless this is a must buy

Even if you've never read the books or seen the movies, you will ABSOLUTELY FEEL the emotion behind the amazing J.R.R. Tolkien story as you listen to this album! A MUST-HAVE for every iTunes user!

This album follows all three of the LOTR movies, and fans will be able to follow the story throughout the symphony. Movements One & Two cover Fellowship of the Ring. Movements Three and Four take care of The Two Towers and Movements Five and Six complete the story's last move, The Return of the King. But if you've never seen the movies, or are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, I still recommend this album because in of itself it tells a great story. You will know when evil is afoot, and when good triumphs. Howard's genius is to capture the feeling of combat, the overwhelming chaos of it all, and the desperation of those who fight for justice. I can't say enough about this album, so please buy it and let it speak for itself. There is so little good music being published, don't let this gem pass you by.

Healthy. Amazing.

I have always wondered why the great film composers don't do this more often. Take a great score and rearrange it for the sake of the musical experience rather than the short and/or constrained cues needed to support the visual of the film. I was lucky enough to see Shore conduct his Symphony with the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus in 2004 and have been waiting for a recording of it ever since. Finally. I was somewhat skeptical of the quality of this recording since I was not familiar with the conductor and the orchestra and chorus (Ludwig Wicki and The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra). Nothing to worry about. The quality is top notch. Even the vocal soloists are first rate. It *is* somewhat difficult to get past the expected voices of Annie, Viggo, etc. but open up. These soloists have great voices and their covers are excellent. If I have one critique, it is the unnecessary applause added after the end of the performance. Easy enough to edit out with the mute button though. If your a fan of this music, don't wait another minute. If you don't get chills or a few tears by the climactic ending then you're an Orc ;)