ABOUT THE SCORE: Under Aurora (aka Pod Severnym Siyaniyem) is a 1990 Japanese/Russian co-production, set during the early 20th century. It deals with survival and vengeance against the beautiful, yet inhospitable, backdrop of the Siberian wilds - a film somewhat in the vein of Kurosawa by way of Jean-Jacques Annaud. Underrated composer Reijiro Koroku, best known in the west for his fantastic score to GODZILLA 1985, was afforded the opportunity to have his music recorded at the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre under the baton of Mark Ermler, and the composer seized the opportunity to pen his most dramatically-satisfying and sweeping score for the film. Indeed the title theme, introduced early on in this suite and tinged with a distinctly Russian air of tragedy, is a marvel to behold; both incredibly moving and as expansive as the land itself. Later in the score a revenge theme is conjured, and a secondary tender idea for a friendly sled dog as well. This is one of those little-heard gems of a score that very much deserves a wider audience, and the central melody is one that listeners are not likely to soon forget. Beautiful, evocative, emotionally direct scoring - no more, no less. Fans of Philippe Sarde's THE BEAR or others scores in that vein will find much to love. As usual, I claim no ownership whatsoever.