Ennio Morricone conducted the Rome Symphony Orchestra for another two historic concerts on the 1st & 2nd December, this time in London's art deco Apollo Hammersmith. After a brief introduction by UK TV presenter Jonathan Ross (one of several showbiz fans in the audience), Morricone stepped up to the podium for an uninterrupted programme of over a hundred minutes of his classic film music.
Opening with a suite from 1900, this was the first of three concert pieces new to UK audiences, and features two incredible melodies that could (according to director Bernardo Bertolucci) have been national anthems for any country. "Tre Adagi" consisting of music from Vatel, The Betrothed, and a new violin arrangement of Once Upon A Time In America, continued the new material, followed by themes from H2S, The Sicilian Clan, Love Circle, and Come Madalena; the latter a fan favourite stunningly performed by the Crouch End Festival Chorus, assisted by a pre-recorded vocal performance (actually offstage - Ed.) by Susanna Rigacci. The Sergio Leone suite almost brought the house down (as usual), and was followed by Casualties Of War (with a new solo voice part) and 'Here's To You' from Sacco & Vanzetti. The main programme concluded with the choral splendour of The Mission.
As with his 75th birthday concert at the Royal Albert Hall (three years ago almost to the week), there was no doubt that the audience appreciated that this was film music only (and did not include the challenging classical material played at The Barbican Centre in the maestro's first UK concert). Standing ovations were long and many; the rapturous applause bringing no less than three encores - Ecstasy Of Gold (again), Casualties Of War (again), and eventually Burn.
The whole programme (complete with the same encores) was repeated the following evening to another packed house, with perhaps a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, and without the fuss of a showbiz introduction. Both concerts had originally been planned for July, and had been postponed without any adequate explanation from the concert organisers. But for those lucky ones who were able to attend, the maestro's marvellous music was more than enough to make amends.
