Earlier this summer, the legendary Ennio Morricone passed away at the age of 91. With more than 400 scores under his belt including collaborations with Sergio Leone, Quentin Tarantino and Brian De Palma, it’s no exaggeration to say the Maestro Morricone is one of cinema’s most iconic figures. Berlin-based label EuroArts have honoured the man’s legacy with a new digital restoration of Morricone Conducts Morricone, originally recorded in 2004 with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester and directed by Morricone’s son Giovanni Morricone.
This thrilling performance is filled with Morricone’s most beloved pieces, such as themes from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, A Fistful of Dynamite, Once Upon a Time in America, and many more. The Münchner Rundfunkorchester sound utterly incredible, while soprano Susanna Rigacci brings a haunting beauty to iconic piece The Ecstasy of Gold. It’s always a treat to hear Morricone’s rich body of work performed, and this concert is packed with some of his best work. Illustrated with clips from the films Morricone has scored, this concert is a real treat for movie buffs.
EuroArts’ Blu-ray release, marketed as digitally restored, isn’t a film that will push your visual equipment to its limits. While the label have clearly done the best job possibly with the source material and upscaled it to 1080i 16:9, this is not an especially sharp image. But with a concert film, the most important aspect is the sound quality – and thankfully, Morricone Conducts Morricone’s PCM Stereo track sounds wonderful. Those wanting to hear the power of Morricone’s beloved works performed by a remarkable orchestra need look no further than this wonderful release.
Revisiting Morricone Conducts Morricone now acts as a wonderful tribute to the late composer, offering a thrilling retrospective of the Maestro’s finest works performed by an immensely talented orchestra.