Angelo F. Lavagnino – Venere Imperiale

Digitmovies is proud to present on a double CD set (which opens the brand new deluxe digipack series) the complete OST by Angelo F. Lavagnino for the movie “Venere imperiale” (aka “Imperial Venus”) directed in 1962 by Jean Delannoy and starring Gina Lollobrigida, Stephen Boyd, Gabriele Ferzetti, Massimo Girotti, Nando Tamberlani, Attilio Dottesio, Evi Maltagliati, Giuseppe Addobbati, Andrea Checchi, Ernesto Calindri, Piero Palermini, Lilla Brignone, Gianni Santuccio, Giulio Marchetti, Marco Guglielmi, Pino Ferrara, Andrea Bosic, Giustino Durano, Umberto Raho, Eleonora Morana, Raymond Pellegrin, Aldo Berti, Giulio Bosetti, Feodor Chaliapin, Jacques Stany, Elsa Albani, Tino Carraro. The loves, adventures and scandals of Paolina Bonaparte (Lollobrigida), the sister of Napoleon (Pellegrin), happy widow of Marshal Leclerc (Girotti) and uninhibited model of the sculptor Canova (Santuccio). At that time C.A.M. released a 33 rpm LP (Cms.30-052) which was then reissued on a CAM CD (CSE 045) in 1991 and contained thirteen selections in mono with a total of 47:15 minutes. By looking at the cue sheets attached to the mono master tapes of the original sessions, we realized that most of the tracks on the album were in fact suites assembled by the author at the time for record purposes. So thanks to the master tapes stored in optimal condition, we could create the definitive presentation of this important International movie OST on a double CD with a total duration of about 140:48 minutes. CD 1 contains the material edited and assembled for the album, followed by the film versions (about 93’) of the OST with each take presented individually as it had been recorded for the film and then continuing on CD 2. In fact, we have also discovered a lot of unreleased music that appears here for the first time ever. The Maestro Lavagnino has written an epic and romantic main theme for the protagonist (Tr. 1) which is reprised within the movie (as in Tr.2, Tr.5, Tr.8) and which gets alternated with lively court dances like the Gavotte and others (as in Tr.4, Tr.6, Tr.7, Tr. 10). The orchestra was masterfully conducted by Carlo Savina. A proper rescue and preservation of an Italian Silver Age score and of the musical art by Angelo F. Lavagnino 

Mario Nascimbene – Uomini E Lupi

Digitmovies presents the second volume of the de-luxe digipack series by releasing  for the first time ever on a double CD set the complete OST by Mario Nascimbene from the movie “Uomini e lupi” (aka “Men and Wolves”) directed by Giuseppe De Santis in 1956. For this double CD set we have used the master tapes in mono of the recording sessions from 1956 well preserved until today which allowed us to use every note recorded, including alternate versions, choral pieces and pieces with solo male voice so that our double CD has a duration of 88:14. A proper rescue and preservation of the Italian Golden Age, the music art of Mario Nascimbene and a sincere tribute to the land of Abruzzo which with its natural beauty has been the backdrop for the film.

Angelo F. Lavagnino – La Maja Desnuda

Digitmovies, in collaboration with Gruppo Sugar, issues on double CD set the complete OST by Angelo F. Lavagnino for the dramatic movie“La Maja desnuda” (aka “The naked Maja”) directed in 1958 by Henry Koster and Mario Russo and starring Ava Gardner, Anthony Franciosa, Gino Cervi, Amedeo Nazzari, Lea Padovani, Massimo Serato. At the time, in Italy, a vinyl album on the label Fonit Cetra (LP.281) was released and with partially different selections on the United Artists LP (UAS 5031) issued in America that, despite did feature the writing stereo on the sleeve was absolutely in mono. Only in 1997 C.A.M. issued a CD (CAM 493270-2) containing 23 selections (43:17). For our double CD project we had access to master tapes in mono of the original recording session with conducting of Carlo Savina. In addition to the material of the previous CD (now taken from first generation master tapes without using the Denoiser and dolby surround) that have sequenced with the film music sequence with the "finale" rightly at the end of the tracks list, we have discovered fabulous inedit material (64:42); as movie versions, alternate takes, the beautiful song "Embrujado" and even the short theme for the Titanus emblem, before the "Titoli". In about 108 total minutes of orchestral OST, the listener can really reallize the greatness of Angelo Francesco Lavagnino who, for this film, has created one of the most intense love themes of his long career and that the composer alternates with fanfares, court music, Spanish dance both instrumentals and vocals, atmospheres of tension and mystery. In short, a true masterpiece that with relentless passion we wanted to pay homage due to a proper digital remastering and a de-luxe digipack graphic.