Quartet Records and Universal Pictures Film Music Classics Collection proudly present the world premiere release of Ennio Morricone’s charming score for Virna Lisi’s 1967 romantic-comedy Arabella, directed by Mauro Bolognini and also starring Terry-Thomas (in multiple roles), James Fox and Margaret Rutherford. This was Morricone’s first collaboration with Bolognini, marking the beginning of a long relationship spanning three decades and producing some of the Roman maestro’s finest and most romantic scores.
In Arabella, Morricone tapped into the Jazz Age setting to craft a score immersed in the sounds of the 1920s, including the tango and Charleston, all in his own distinctive style. He also provided a silky, elusive love theme that glides along on smooth strings and wordless chorus. Morricone augmented this theme with harpsichord and synth to create a slight feeling of unreality connected with Arabella’s daring intrigues.
Until now, the score of Arabella has never been released in any format. Not a single cue was ever included in any of the countless Morricone compilations, and for a long time the music was considered lost. Fortunately, a set of 1/4″ tapes with the complete recording sessions was located in the Universal vaults, in mono, and in very good condition. The album was produced by Neil S. Bulk and the Grammy-nominated producer Mike Matessino, sequenced by Dániel Winkler and mastered by Matessino. The package includes detailed liner notes by film music writer John Takis.
