Morricone in New York debut and More Musical News!

The legendary composer Ennio Morricone made his triumphant American public premiere at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on February 3, 2007 to a packed and appreciative audience. Following the debut of his 9/11 inspired piece “Vocci del Silencio” at the United Nations the day before, the Maestro treated the Radio City crowd to select tracks from his most famous film scores.

The cover to the Morricone Concert Program on eBay until 2/20.

Though some hardcore fans may have been disappointed that he didn’t play some of his more obscure horror, crime and adventure film music (sorry, no Danger! Diabolik), it was an awesome experience to see a chorus of 100+, along with the excellent soprano Susanna Rigacci, belt out the themes from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Pianist Gilda Buttà also thrilled the audience with her ivory tickling and when finished, the Maestro came back for three encores.

(Above) An amateur hand-held video of "The Ecstasy of Gold" from the Radio City concert. (Below) A professional live video of the same song from Munich in 2005.

Morricone seemed to enjoy the audience despite his hectic New York schedule. Along with the UN and Radio City shows, he put up with a lot of interviews though many were cancelled. A friend interviewing him for Guitar Player magazine found him a difficult subject as he was told through an interpreter that he “won’t talk about guitars.”

Pushing 80, it seems Morricone would rather be appreciated for the classical music he has been composing for over 50 years than his over 400 TV and film soundtracks. His themes have become legendary signatures used by a variety of international directors with no end in sight (he has just signed on to Brian DePalma’s new Untouchables sequel), so perhaps his other compositions will be appreciated as much in the future.

Meanwhile, a new Morricone tribute album will be released this month with music by such diverse artists as Metallica, Yo Yo Ma and Celine Dion on a CD entitled “We All Love Ennio Morricone.” Click on the cover image for more information and to pre-order this future classic!

Also in New York, the Film Forum is running a Morricone Film Festival until February 22nd. Morricone also receives an long-deserved award at the Oscar ceremonies this year.

And of course, there is a Diabolikal Super-Kriminal konnection with Morricone: Besides both having Italian origins, Morricone co-composed and recorded a pop tune called “Saïda” for director Lucio Fulci’s film I due della legione straniera (1962) with Rosario Borelli, who went on to direct all of the Sadistik photo novels.

Check out all of Morricone's film contributions at imdb.com

Here's the set list for the Radio City Show:

ENNIO MORRICONE Radio City Music Hall 3 February 2007

ORCHESTRA Roma Sinfonietta
SOPRANO Susanna Rigacci
CHORUS The Canticum Novum Singers
PIANO Gilda Buttà
OBOE Carlo Romano

LA VITA E LA LEGGENDA
THE UNTOUCHABLES
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
Deborah’s Theme – Poverty – Once Upon a Time in America
The Legend of ‘900

NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO

MALENA

THE MODERNITY OF MYTH IN SERGIO LEONE’S CINEMA
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY – THE ECSTASY OF GOLD

SOCIAL CINEMA
VITTIME DI GUERRA
ABOLISSON from QUEMADA

SCATTERED SHEETS
H2 S
IL CLAN DEI SICILIANI
METTI UNA SERA A CENA
UNO CHE GRIDA AMORE
COME MADDALENA

MISSION
GABRIEL’S OBOE
MISSION
ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN