ennio morricone

A fistful of killers from the mAestro’s fArewell show…

At the end of 2018, Ennio Morricone visited London’s 02 Arena for his final UK show. Over two hours and three encores, the 90-yearold composer took the 20,000-strong audience on an epic journey through six decades of film music. Here’s (a mere) 10 highlights… ‘The Ecstasy Of Gold’ The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

The rolling piano, the horizon-wide melody… Spurred on by Susanna Rigacci’s soprano, one of the greatest build-ups in soundtrack history galloped into life with rapturous force and feeling. So good, he played it twice. ‘Deborah’s Theme’

Once Upon A Time In America

The first standing ovation of the night followed this gorgeous cue from Morricone’s 1984 Sergio Leone reunion. Leone played Morricone’s score on set to establish the mood: live, its elegance proved breathtakingly immersive. ‘Main Theme’

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

From the high plains of soundtrack cool, it came… Between its badass melody, strident horns and robust chorale, Morricone’s signature tune issued a swaggering reminder of how he revolutionised western music. ‘Man With A Harmonica’

Once Upon A Time In The West

The howl of a harrowed harmonica introduced the western segment of the show. With sweep, sorrow and suspense, Harmonica’s theme majestically showcased Morricone’s soul-deep grasp of character, mood and location.

‘Abolisson’

Burn!

Morricone’s radical spirit blazed bright with this rallying cry from Gillo Pontecorvo’s colonialist critique. Between its spry percussion, rousing organ and impassioned chants, ‘Abolisson’ all but raised the roof. ‘On Earth As It Is In Heaven’

The Mission

The Crouch End Festival Chorus brought great swells of feeling and spiritual force to this liturgical piece from Roland Joffé’s epic. By the time it closed the main set, audience emotions were peaking. ‘Last Stagecoach To Red Rock’ The Hateful Eight

Despite (false) reports that Morricone had dissed Tarantino, this low-end cue proved the potency of their team-up. Opening the second set, its ominous tubas and death’s-head dynamics showed masterful tension and release.

‘Chi Mai’

Maddalena

Dating from 1971, one of Morricone’s most familiar pieces reached number two in the UK charts 10 years later, following its use in a TV series about David Lloyd George. Live, its weightless delicacy showed wondrous poise.

‘Tropical Variation’

Nostromo

In a career as vast as Morricone’s, deep cuts abound. His farewell UK show featured many: with its rhythmic piano and bass-flute melody, this infectious cue from a ’90s mini-series was a stand-out, ripe for rediscovery.

‘Love Theme’

Cinema Paradiso

For his encore, the maestro bathed in nostalgia with a cut from Giuseppe Tornatore’s homage to film. His ability to embed feeling in melody resonated in every lyrical note. Kevin Harley