The Very Best of Ennio Morricone

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0724385024221 Format: Soundtrack Label: Virgin Manufacturer: Virgin Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Virgin Release Date: 2000-09-18 Running Time: 75 Studio: Virgin
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Editorial Reviews: Ennio Morricone anthologies come and go, and there are always several to choose from. But as so many recycle the same tracks, one might be forgiven for thinking Morricone had only scored a dozen or so movies rather than something over 300. This makes picking a collection difficult, but this disc can be recommended for particularly polished remastered sound and, with 20 tracks, a lengthy 75 minutes' playing time. Nine cues come from the Sergio Leone movies with which Morricone is indelibly associated, including the Clint Eastwood "dollars" trilogy and Once Upon a Time in the West. With their eclectic orchestrations and infectious melodies these landmark scores set film music in an entirely new direction. The more recent music concentrates on the hauntingly romantic side of Morricone's talent, ranging from the fatalistic "Chi Mai" to two cues from the lushly exotic The Mission and the lovely theme from Cinema Paradiso. Leone's final film, Once Upon a Time in America enabled Morricone to pen some of the most heartbreakingly nostalgic music in all cinema, while a selection from Mission to Mars reveals that after four decades the Italian master is still writing some of Hollywood's most imaginative and heartfelt music. --Gary S Dalkin
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Disappointing interpretation Comment: I was really disappointed when listening to these recordings. I had an old recording of Morricone on a tape, which I love, and thought I was to find the same on this CD. But the interpretations are really different (I agree with one of the previous comments), and are far from carrying the same emotions. Don't do like me, and listen to the song samples to make sure this is what you want. Customer Rating: Summary: Not just Spaghetti Westerns Comment: I made my purchase of this album solely because I wanted the theme music to the Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western movies and to my surprise, I ended up with a must-have CD. From the beautiful "Deer Hunter" like Chi Mai, through the hauntingly melodic Deborah's Theme, the unusual The Man With The Harmonica and the outstanding Frantic this CD is a masterpiece equal to Mozart, Beethoven or Handel. Any music lover should own a copy of this and enjoy the hugely talented Ennio Morricone again and again. Customer Rating: Summary: A good introduction to the maestro Comment: Whilst far from being the most comprehensive compilation (e.g. no Untouchables) it is an excellent introduction to Morricone in that it covers his most famous work and also his most mainstream. Purists may argue it omits his more experitmental and avant garde side - but in the end how can you complain when you have Gabirel's Oboe and the Once Upon a time in the West theme. Customer Rating: Summary: Disappointing selection from a great soundtrack composer Comment: Ennio Morricone originally came to my attention because of the soundtracks he composed and conducted for the films 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', 'Fistful of Dollars', 'For a few Dollars more' and 'Fistful of Dynamite'. Judging by this CD these soundtracks are still his best work. The rest, in my opinion, simply don't measure up. I'll admit, I've never been a fan of Chi Mai, which I know is contrary to popular opinion so this CD may be well received generally. But if you like your Morricone to be of the high-camp, high-drama variety, such as is found in the Spaghetti Westerns, then don't buy this CD. A major blemish (and quite why on earth the compilers of this CD chose to do this) is the selection of a Geoff Love version of 'For a Few Dollars More' (I'm sure there is a far superior Morricone version). Overall very disappointed. Customer Rating: Summary: Superb instrumental sounds to celebrate the millennium Comment: Shame that there isn't 6 stars - worth every penny this CD does tremendous justice to one of our best contemporary composers. This is the history of film and music combined in sheer bliss ! The 1966 familiar sounds of "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" are still as fresh in the year 2000, and contrast with the haunting vibrations of "Gabriel's Oboe" from the film "The Mission". Certainly CD of the year, and a great Christmas present. More Reviews