Morricone Memories
This personal tribute to the late composer by violinist Marco Serino is filled with treasures
Morricone
Cinema Suites for Violin and Orchestra Marco Serino (violin); Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento/andrea Morricone
Arcana A495 64:02
Ennio Morricone’s contribution to cinema was massive, with hundreds of scores for the big and small screen. Many went under the radar outside of Italy, while others broke new ground and remain firmly fixed in popular culture. Though Morricone regarded his screen music differently to his ‘absolute’ compositions, the two came together increasingly in recent decades as ‘Il Maestro’ took his music into concert halls and arenas around the world. One man who was with him almost every step of the way was violinist Marco Serino, to whom Morricone dedicated a number of works and arrangements. This album gathers suites of the composer’s film music, arranged for violin and orchestra. Morricone finished work on the suites just months before his death, and so this recording is a loving tribute by Serino. There’s an air of great respect and humility in the performances, conducted by Morricone’s son, Andrea, while the music bears all the hallmarks of the man himself. Themes from the likes Cinema Paradiso, The Mission and Once Upon a Time in America are rich in emotional colour and unforgettable melodies. ★★★★★