Morricone Conducts Morricone (2004)

For cinephiles and soundtrack collectors everywhere, Morricone Conducts Morricone is a DVD to cherish for a lifetime. Recorded in Munich, Germany on October 20, 2004, this no-frills 100-minute concert performance offers no bonus features, and none are necessary; an interview with Morricone would've been welcome, but the concert itself is a priceless treasure, honoring Ennio Morricone's staggering film-music legacy (over 400 scores as of 2006) with a well-chosen program of highlights conducted by the composer himself. With minimal fanfare, Morricone ascends the podium, peering over his glasses with the intense expression of a vigilant professore, and the Berlin Rundfunk Orchestra launches into the main theme from The Untouchables, beginning the "Life and Legend" portion of the program, which also includes the lush, romantic "Deborah's Theme" from Once Upon a Time in America, and similarly evocative excerpts from the scores of The Legend of 1900 and Cinema Paradiso (the latter being the first of several selections discreetly accompanied by film clips). The second section, "Single Pages," showcases excerpts of early Morricone scores from lesser-known films like Love Circle, Maddalena, and H2S (the latter an obscure 1968 film that fell victim to censorship). The third section is devoted to Morrione's classic music for the films of Sergio Leone, including themes that made Morricone a film-music superstar: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and A Fistful of Dynamite, with soprano soloist Susanna Rigacci doing an impressive job of re-creating (in a slightly lower register) the original soundtrack performance of Edda Dell'Orso on West.

The fourth section, "Socially Committed Cinema," highlights Morricone's work on serious issue-related dramas including Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and Casualties of War, while the fifth and final section, "Tragic, Lyrical, Epic," concludes with the unforgettable "Gabriel's Oboe" theme from Morricone's beloved score for Roland Joffé's 1986 drama The Mission. As directed by Morricone's son Giovanni, Morricone Conducts Morricone is flawlessly recorded (in PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, or DTS 5.1) and visually unobtrusive, with multiple fixed cameras and efficient, no-nonsense editing providing well-executed coverage of full sections and soloists including prominent performances by pianist Gilda Buttà, Ulrich Herkenhoff (assuming the panpipe duties originated by the great Georges Zamfir on Once Upon a Time in America) and solo violinist Henry Raudales. And while some may lament the absence of such Morricone favorites as "Man With a Harmonica" from Once Upon a Time in the West, these 21 selections offer ample compensation, demonstrating Morricone's prolific versatility while emphasizing the string and woodwind arrangements that have made Morricone a household name in Italy and around the world. In the accompanying booklet, a mini-essay by concert organizer Matthias Keller describes Morricone as "The Picasso of Film Music," honoring the maestro as a bold experimenter whose work reflects an innovative willingness to combine seemingly incompatible musical idioms into themes that are uniquely and characteristically his own. It's an apt description, evident in full blossom on this remarkable, must-own DVD. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Morricone Conducts Morricone

This DVD was not quite what I expected but was OK. With some play back machines, there are problems with the film action sequences where whole sections of the recording are skipped. The whole presentation seemed to lack something which I cannot clearly identify. May 18, 2008

Every Music Lover's Library

Morricone Conducts Morricone

YES! SUBURB !! This title should be in Every Music Lovers Library !!!

Not only the exquisitely beautiful compositions of Ennio Morricone, but a 'LIVE' concert conducted by this master musician. Recorded in Berlin with full orchestra, chorus and outstanding soloists[both instrumental as well as vocal] there is nothing to dissuade an aficionado from purchasing this DVD to add to their collection. February 11, 2008

Fascinante

La verdad, me encantó.
Soy fiel oyente de música de películas.
Morricone se terminó de consagrar con la banda sonora de "La Misión". La interpretación es magistral. Vale la pena. Es de los coleccionables. August 23, 2007

marvellous - with one reservation

I endorse everything the other reviewers have said about this DVD. It gives ample proof (if any is needed) that Morricone is indeed the greatest film composer alive, both in terms of quality and quantity. This DVD is superb in every way, but with one serious disappointment -- in its treatment of one of Morricone's greatest scores, 'The Legend of 1900'. All that we get is a one-minute excerpt played on the harp, which is not even the main theme but a sort of prelude to the main theme. Why oh why did Morricone decide to leave out one of the most lusciously beautiful themes he ever wrote, and one of his most romantic and touching piano solos? I just don't understand it. We'll have to turn to his other DVD, 'Arena Concerto', for a full treatment of 'The Legend of 1900' -- and what a performance! For that reason alone, I would prefer 'Arena Concerto' to this one, especially when it provides much the same music in such passionately committed performances by an Italian orchestra, with the same pianist and soprano, plus some extras (including an interview with the composer). August 13, 2007

Even superior to the "Arena Concerto"

I just couldn't believe it since I own the mentioned Arena Concerto
which I classified as someting impossible to beat as far as the beauty
of a true live concert is concerned. That's why I waited a long time
before purchasing "Morricone conducts Morricone" thinking I'd buy
at least something equal to that. No way....!
This is absolutely marvellous and here are the reasons why:
- it's an indoor concert which makes the sound quality unbelievable
- there are more movie themes being played than usual and we can listen
to such beauties as "Sicilian Clan, Love Circle, H2S and Maddalena"
- the solo performances on Cockeye Song and Making Love make you trans-
port to the utmost "boundaries" of what music can be like...
It is 100 minutes of pure pleasure without any pause just straight
one Morricone beauty after another. I cannot force anyone to buy this
but you will be sorry if you don't.
April 20, 2007

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