Varèse Sarabande release Benoit Charest and Benoit Groulx's score for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. The year is 1806 and England is beleaguered by the long war with Napoleon and centuries have passed since practical magicians faded into the nation’s past. However, one remains - the reclusive and skillful Mr Norrell. In London, he raises the beautiful Lady Pole from the dead and summons an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French. Soon the cautious and fussy Norrell is challenged by the emergence of another magician: the brilliant novice Jonathan Strange. A dangerous battle ensues between the two great men. Their obsessions and secret dabbling’s with the dark arts will cause more trouble than they can imagine...

Benoit Charest and Benoit Groulx's score for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell incorporates numerous interesting themes and set pieces. Mostly, not surprisingly given the time period of the show, are a little on the gothic side. The spirit of Bernard Herrmann is also alive and while in quite a few instances here.

The opening track is very reminiscent of '80s/'90s Danny Elfman, whilst 'Strange Waltz' and 'The Waltz' reminded me of the score to Granada Television's Sherlock Holmes series (1984-1994).

Of this score's 34 tracks (1 hr, 01 min, 03 sec) personal highlight include the beautiful 'Arabella's Death Suite'; 'Sir Pole in Parliament'; 'This Stew Is Excellent'; and 'Breaking in Lady Pole's House'.

If you've seen the show then you'll already know how impressive the score is, and if you haven't seen it, then you should really pick this up if you're a fan of beautiful classical scores with gothic undertones.

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Darren Rea