*2025 Stock * On Forever, Alessandro Alessandroni’s last work, the listener is invited into an atmospheric journey that spans decades of musical mastery and invention. Assembled in the intimate, sometimes solitary, backdrop of Namibia, where he spent his last months, the album doubles as a final creative outpouring and a reflection on a life that shaped the soundscape of twentieth-century Italy. Here, orchestral arrangements unfold with the familiar warmth, wit, and textural finesse that long defined Alessandroni’s contributions to genre and film, yet they are marked by a distinctly elegiac tone, as if he were reviewing his legacy with measured restraint.
The record’s flow—oscillating between gentle melodies, jazz inflections, and moods reminiscent of both the cinematic and the continental—serves not just as a portfolio of Alessandroni’s beloved trademarks, but also as a demonstration of his perpetual search for new forms. His hand is evident in every note, from the wistful guitar themes and deft use of accordion and recorder, to the unmistakable whistle that subtly references his iconic work with Ennio Morricone, though reframed here in a more personal, introspective light. Listeners will discern the interplay of nuanced arrangements, where strings—often directed by Alessandro Alessandroni Jr.—encircle the lead lines, leaving ample space for moments of reflection and sentimentality. The presence of collaborators like Cinzia Alessandroni on vocals and trusted instrumentalists enriches the texture without crowding the composer’s vision.
Far from self-indulgent, Forever unfolds with meditative poise. Tracks like “Summer Of Emotions” and “Melody On The Hill” highlight Alessandroni’s ability to craft narrative arcs from the simplest motifs, his melodic intuition unclouded even in his final creative period. The music moves with a gentle confidence, resisting any urge toward grandiosity, instead preferring the modest unveiling of layers—a style honed from a lifetime of scoring, arranging, and producing across genres and continents.
Ultimately, this album stands as a fitting farewell, encapsulating the breadth of a career that encompassed iconic soundtracks, avant-garde vocal projects, and easy listening gems. With Forever, listeners are not just reminded of what made Alessandroni a pillar of Italian music, but also permitted to linger softly in the presence of an artist quietly, almost humbly, making peace with his art. The result is a document of rare composure and last, luminous grace.
