Franco Zeffirelli"s version of Charlotte Bronte"s gothic masterpiece gets a predictably romantic and stately treatment. Italian composers Vlad (Tea with Mussolini) and Capponi coat the subdued narrative with a somber, symphonic gauze. These tracks evoke a mood of erudition to reflect the director"s fealty to the classic, literary subject matter, but as an independent listening experience, it is dull. This is mainly because, despite the many "themes," there is a dearth of striking melodies. Aside from the tension on "Fire at Thornfield," the general spirit is flat but not consistently mellow enough to be relaxing. With neither sonic distinction nor a sense of dramatic buildup, listeners are left with orchestrated monotony that might be dreamlike on the screen but lacks utility as a recording. --Joseph Lanza