After supposedly not only I have asked cdmusic.cz about how to purchase the score, they redesigne their page. If you clicke into cdmusic.cz, you enter directly the page of the 3nfc-score. A new design, matching with the cover of the CD, pictured links towards Diane's site (not existing any longer) and mine, evreything in pink, advertising for a 3hfa-CD-ROM (!!) and the video straight below. Unbelievable. Smart. But among the fans the rumor of a really bad CD is spreading, nobody can enjoy the music beneath all this noise.

Apparently a wave of complaints begins to roll over Supraphon. After less than two weeks of Cinderella-fever cdmusic.cz takes back the changes of their first site. The fans ask Supraphon, if they could release a real OST.

A better CD is announced

As months pass new rumors spread, that there will be a new score-CD. Obviously Supraphon receive a lot of e-mails. All of them contain complaints about the bad CD. In May 2002 Mrs. Gonda from supraphon (becoming the one to turn to) writes to Marcel, that they are working on some "German version". Marcel fears the same rubbish only with German background noises.

A lot of fans seem to follow his suggestion "Keep on complaining to Supraphon!" As a result Jana Gonda confirms, that they "will use the original music as it was recorded for the film."

The original tapes do exist - Supraphon gets specific

In Summer 2002 is becomes known, that years ago another fan has managed to get a legal copy of the original production master tape on DAT from Prague Barrandov-Studios. He just had to pay the costs for copying the tape.

After this fan published his incredible story, there is proof, that the original tapes do exist and Supraphon only has to confer with Barrandov and Karel Svoboda on the publishing. At least after in September the DAT-owner offers his tape to Supraphon. But Jana Gonda answers: "It is not always as easy as it seems to release a piece of music. Different companies hold the rights, not all tapes are of the same quality, etc." Later she writes: "We will license the music from barrandov, so we will probably have the same material as you have. Naturally, we will remaster it, so it sounds well."

In September, Jana Gonda writes to several fans, that the new CD will be released within six months. This would be March 2003. To me she writes: "I do not know where you bought the Cinderella CD, but it was made for the Czech market and it is targeted at children. ... However, since so many of you asked, we will be bringing out a regular soundtrack within the next six months."

This sounds good! But we get a problem. A fan writes into the guestbook, that Mrs. Gonda answered his inquiry this way: "... yes we plan to release the Cinderella-Score plus other well-loved music of Karel Svoboda...". A compilation in which pieces of music from the film will be missing, this is not what the fans have in mind.

On my worried question I get the following reply: "You do not need to be concerned, we do intend to release the complete music from Popelka. But exactly because the music is too short to fill a whole CD, we have decided to use the opportunity to make available some other well-loved music by Karel Svoboda." Soon after that the date "March" is confirmed, too.

The Release is delayed until the End of May 2003

In March 2003 the fans justly ask about the coming score. Supraphon has got problems. Mrs. Gonda, answering directly and informatively (which is really commendable!) reports, that the producer in duty has become victim of a hit-and-run accident and just now shortly before the release date has to stay in hospital. Besides Karel Svoboda wants to listen to his 30 year-old oevre again. But first he has to manage the (renewed) Premiere of his musical "Dracula" in Prague on March, 27th.

With bated breath we are waiting for the CD. What will be pressed onto it? How many of the sometimes very 10pt pieces of music, which honestly saying sometimes repeat in the film will be omitted? Which other "well-loved" music by Karel Svoboda is added?

In mid-April the composer is satisfied with his masterpiece and the CD can be manufactured. Supraphon kindly informs me about the German partner (Codaex - never heard of them), because now I am trying to find out, where to buy the CD acutally in Germany.

The CD can be ordered and we got a Tracklist!

At the end of April 2003 Roland from Switzerland writes to me, that the CD can already be ordered on two online-shops (sadly only one of them delivers to Europe, taking a lump-sum of 10 Euros as shipping-costs), while in Germany amazon refuses to take the title into their stock. It would be too difficult to organize this, they explain (later they decided to do it anyway).

In the Czech Republic the CD can already be ordered since May, 14th. Diane: writes to me: "...If Supraphon keeps dates, the CD will be released in Germany on June, 16th.".

And really: Shortly after that two mails arrive naming the same online-shop to book the CD in Germany in advance - thanks, Sybilla and Anni. I investigate the web and find more sellers. In Switzerland, there are more than two sellers, as well (thank you, Silas). Later I get to know, that the CD will be in stores, too (thanks, Volker). And even amazon have changed their mind (thanks, Steffen)...

The online-shop JPC writes on 22.5. that they sold 40 CDs already. This amount will increase, soon, because of the tracklist, venerable Mrs. Gonda sends me:

Three Nuts for Cinderella (O.S.T.) SU 5474-2 301

1 Three Nuts for Cinderella (Motive I) - Introduction
2 Stepmother - Ashes and Peas
3 Darling Doves I
4 Cinderella and Her Horse (Motive I) - Arrival of the Royal Retinue
5 Chase for Cinderella I
6 Chase for Cinderella II
7 Departure of the Royal Retinue
8 Cinderella's Bad Deal I (Motive I)
9 Motive of Teacher, and "Dance Lesson"
10 Vince and the Three Nuts
11 The Nut's Magic (Motives I + II)
12 Cinderella - Huntsman (Motive II)
13 The Best Shoot (Motive II)
14 Chase for Cinderella III
15 Cinderella's Bad Deal II (Motive I) - Peas and Lentils
16 Darling Doves II - Nut Number Two
17 Royal ball
18 Cinderella's Dance with the Prince (Motive I)
19 Cinderella Fleeing from the Ball (Motive II)
20 Betrayal, Pursuit, and Punishment
21 Finale I - There's Bound to Be Wedding! (Motive I)
22 Finale I (Motive II)

Music by Karel Svoboda
Music recorded by the Film Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Štepán Konícek
Total time 42:27

The CD grants all the fans' wishes!

On May, 28th. I have a look into the letterbox and the miracle has happened: Codaex kindly have sent me a press-release of the CD. Thank you!! I am fatally ill but have to jump around and dance with the speakers turned on to 11. After that I cough half an hour and have to go to bed.

On the next day the neighbours ask, if the lovely music came from my flat and I am driven to the PC. I thank Codaex and Supraphon and here is my review:

The CD really contains the original score of the film shortened in some tiny details, which mostly does not strike anybody. Cinderella's dance with the ball dress in her shed and the appearnce of her horse are missing, a very short sequence we can do without. Three figurative pieces are missing, too, i.e. the prince's stride along the waiting dancers and how little rosie grabs him, and the piece with the band losing their rhythm when Cinderella enters the ballroom. This is a pity on the one hand. On the other hand these are very short sequences without context and difficult to add somwhere.

Funny that the Cover of the CD shows the same motive as the DVD's Cover - just mirrored. On the other hand Libuse has got her sweet mole back on the CD, which is missing on the DVD.

The producers stuck together ball's dances in a meaningful way and left out all pieces of music to which Cinderella approaches the castle. This music can be heard within other tracks, so nothing is missing. This is excellent.

A really noticeable change has been done in the last piece. Originally (and I mean the Czech original) Karel Gott is singing his famous "Kdepak, ty ptacku hnizdo mas?". His voice has been replaced by some oboe. This sounds strange but not bad.

Helena Bartiková, the producer writes to me about the CD: "... I have to tell you that this work was very very nice but very hard for me too. Because I was only pinch-hitter on behalf of my illness colleague and we all (Mr.Paulu,Mr.Svoboda and me) didn´t know any details about German version but we wanted to do our best for the CD and for all German fans.
Only some few gloses: As you noted in booklet Mr. Svoboda had a supervision of the CD - if some fragment of melody is absent - he wanted it, he felt what is precise (not to be boring or needless), only he is allowed to do whichsoever, he is the author. He didn´t change the order of melodies he got off only a short fragments from that music.

The last melody of CD version is the film last melody without Karel Gott voice only. It was Karel Svoboda´s idea to compensate missing track in the original film tape /but the voice´s track had to be exchanged, it was "music base" only in the film tape and in this track/. You are right - it is the oboe but not synthesized. These are only some untutored sentences to explain it. I have to say - Mr. Svoboda is really the big practician and he gave big consideration and care to genesis of this CD for his fans. ..."

This review seems to present several changes within the score, but believe me: all that has been changed are trifles. The musik has not been shortened, all tracks have full length and it is a pure and original O.S.T. of our beloved film! Your heart will rise, you will leave the room only with a discman fixed to your belt, it is sheer MADNESS!

WE DID IT!