Two of Italy’s most internationally renown musicians combine their artistry in “Morricone Uncovered,” an album of songs from some of the best known film scores of famed composer Ennio Morricone, given lyrics here for the first time and sung by Romina Arena, a classically-trained singer with a passionate, evocative personal musical style that has come to be known as “Popera.”
Morricone has provided the memorable musical backdrops to such films as The Good the Bad and the Ugly, The Untouchables, The Mission, Bugsy, Cinema Paradiso, Malena and many more, working with noted movie directors Sergio Leone, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Bernardo Bertolucci, Lina Wertmuller, Brian De Palma, Warren Beatty, Oliver Stone, Pedro Almodovar and Quentin Tarantino, who used his music in the soon to be released Django Unchained. . The multi-award winning composer met Arena when she was just 12 and already a prodigy who would later leave an indelible impression on the him when she sang lyrics over his theme music for “Once Upon a Time in America.”
A few years after their meeting Arena‘s life would take a near tragic turn. At age 15 she was viciously attacked backstage at a TV studio, her vocal cords severed and her survival hanging in the balance as she lingered in a coma for months.
She would not only survive, but thrive, and emerge from the ordeal to become an international singing star, fluent in ten languages, forging a classical crossover style all her own, and now with an astonishing five-octave vocal range, the curious legacy of the near fatal attack. Her remarkable voice, her passionate approach to music, her ability to connect to the listener on an intimate level are all on brilliant display in “Morricone Uncovered” as she gives voice for the first time to some of the maestro’s best instrumental music.
Arena wrote the lyrics for 14 of the 15 tracks of “Morricone Uncovered” which includes her original interpretations of songs from Lolita, The Untouchables, For A Few Dollars More, Casualties of War, Love Affair and other films, except for Le Professional which was written by famous French Artist/Producer/Writer Rick Allison. Arena‘s soaring, sensual voice is backed by the lush sound of Hungary’s Budafok Orchestra, all under the artistic direction of Giovanni Morricone, the composer’s son, and Giancarlo Ioppolo.
“My deepest admiration and respect goes to my mentor Ennio Morricone, who, with this record, has definitely made a difference in my life and my career!,” Arena said, adding, “It is a blessing that I am eager to share with the world.”
Arena has worked with Andrea Bocelli, Lou Rawls, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Al Martino, Gladys Knight, Eliot Sloan from Blessed Union of Souls, and headlined on the Celine Dion stage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. World renowned, she has performed such diverse venues as Australia’s Sidney Opera House, St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver and both the Italian Embassy and The White House in Washington, D.C.
“Morricone Uncovered” is available at iTunes & Amazon.com
For more information on Romina Arena and to sample Morricone Uncovered, go to www.rominaarena.com and www.morriconeuncovered.com.
