The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Soundtrack features music from Oscar winner Howard Shore and a special song by Grammy award winner Annie Lennox. Also highlighting acclaimed Soprano Renée Fleming and Irish Flautist Sir James Galway, it debuted in multiple formats November 25.

The original soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the final installment in Peter Jacksonís epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will be released on Reprise/WMG Soundtracks on November 25. The film opens nationwide on December 17 from New Line Cinema.

With music composed, orchestrated and conducted by Oscar and Grammy Award winner Howard Shore, who composed the scores to the two previous films in the Trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King also features the new song "Into The West", performed by Grammy Award winner Annie Lennox, and spotlights guest appearances by acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming, renowned Irish flautist Sir James Galway, and others.

"I have enjoyed working with Howard and Fran [Walsh] immensely," remarked Annie Lennox. "It has been a fascinating experience to be a very small part of this vast jigsaw puzzle entitled The Lord of The Rings. The dedication and commitment to the project is awesome in every way. The song 'Into The West' is hauntingly beautiful and emotional, which befits the final scene of the trilogy."

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is being made available in four separate configurations. The CD format will feature 19 original selections from the film. A special limited edition package will contain the best-selling soundtracks from all three installments of The Lord of the Rings, including The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Two Towers (2002), which have sold over 3 million units worldwide.

A deluxe CD+DVD edition will contain The Return of the King CD and an exclusive DVD that will feature bonus material including a The Lord of the Rings "super-trailer" a The Return of the King photo gallery from the recording sessions; film stills; and poems and lyrics from The Return of the King. It will also contain the special feature, "Use Well The Days: A Behind The Scenes Portrait Of Howard Shore," a 20-minute documentary focusing on Shore's work in London during the recording of the film score by documentarian Elizabeth Cotnoir; as well as a second Anne Lennox track recorded especially for the DVD. Finally, an Internet-only version of the CD+DVD package will be available only to online buyers with additional The Lord of the Rings extras. CD formats will contain a weblink to exclusive multi-media content from the films, and liner notes written by Howard Shore and director Peter Jackson.

"Howard has always understood the emotional truth that lies at the center of this story," remarks The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. "He has succeeded in drawing the audience into the very heart of its beauty, heroism and sadness. Howard's music weaves seamlessly from image to image, scene to scene, film to film, binding score, characters and story into the rich tapestry of a far bigger and more complex picture. This has been his great strength as a composer, for Howard has shaped the score for The Lord of the Rings not over one, but three films, establishing and developing powerful themes, that much like Tolkien's work itself, 'grew in the telling.'"

"'It is good to begin well; it is better to end well,'" comments Howard Shore. "This simple phrase has come to mind often as I approach the end of this epic project. I believe that we all have felt a great spirit leading us and guiding us to the finish. We all focused on perfecting the small details of our work each day in the hope that, together, they would produce a wonderful whole, a complete world to experience and for generations to enjoy. We worked seriously and steadily, but always with good humor."

Standout selections of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King include such Howard Shore originals as "Minas Tirith", "Twilight And Shadow", "A Storm Is Coming" and "The End Of All Things". The film's title track features Sir James Galway, Renée Fleming and The Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen.

Music for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was produced by Howard Shore. Executive Album Producers are Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Paul Broucek. Executive Producer for WMG Soundtracks is Danny Bramson.

On December 17, New Line Cinema's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King concludes the compelling journeys at the heart of J.R.R. Tolkienís revered trilogy. Produced, co-written and directed by Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson. The screenplay is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Jackson based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. Cast members include (in alphabetical order) Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Noble, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham and Elijah Wood.

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