 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saimel Records presents on this CD the world premiere release of Carlo Rustichelli´s score for the 1958 movie L´UOMO DAI CALZONI CORTI which was directed by former documentary filmmaker Glauco Pellegrini and starred the 10-year-old Edoardo Nevola - who had been discovered as a child actor by the celebrated director Pietro Germi for his superb family drama IL FERROVIERE in 1956 - in the title role as well as prominent actors like Alida Valli, Francisco Rabal, Eduardo De Filippo and Memmo Carotenuto.
L´UOMO DAI CALZONI CORTI (which was later retitled L´AMORE PIÙ BELLO) is a quite lovely and touching small picture, half melodrama, half road movie, which tells the story of the small boy Salvatore who with great courage and hope journeys throughout Italy to find his mother again who had abandoned him.
Carlo Rustichelli who literally scored hundreds of films during his long and illustrious career was one of the most versatile and distinguished Italian film composers firmly rooted in the operatic as well as the folkloristic tradition of his country. His music - even more so than the one by other Italian film composers - always sounded characteristically Italian, he had an inimitable lyrical symphonic style and an immense melodic gift.
His work for L´UOMO DAI CALZONI CORTI harkens back to two of his greatest achievements from the 1950s. On the one hand to IL FERROVIERE for which he had supplied a similar melancholy main theme for guitar, and on the other hand to his powerful score for Pietro Germi´s epic masterpiece IL CAMMINO DELLA SPERANZA from 1950, which has also left its indelible marks on this later composition, above all relating to the glowing passion with which tragic events and situations are so movingly and convincingly depicted in musical terms. This is deeply compelling, highly emotional music with which the composer lets us feel his enormous empathy for the characters as well as the tragic implications and turmoils in which they get involved.
The main theme for solo guitar is very flexible and is constantly reprised with different instrumentations and with all kinds of variations throughout the score. It is the boy´s steady companion on his long and complicated journey throughout Italy.
There are other themes as well: A sad theme intoned by a clarinet which expresses the doubts of a childless couple and an achingly beautiful poignant melody we hear for the first time when Salvatore meets his mother and she can´t reveal her identity to him. In contrast to the melancholy and sentimental tracks Rustichelli contributes a few short vivacious Gershwinesque interludes or funny and charming waltz-like music in "People of Venice".
Rustichelli has written a wonderfully sensitive and romantic score for this rather unknown movie which contains all the typical imprints of his symphonic style and is a pure delight to listen to on its own. May our CD contribute to the rediscovery of this melodic gem by one of the most gifted composers of the Italian cinema.
The CD which is limited to 300 copies can now be pre-ordered at Rosebud Banda Sonora in Spain and will be available there on March 31st:
http://www.rosebudbandasonora.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=23973
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
