Ennio Morricone signs new Decca record deal at 87

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By Adam Sherwin

June 3, 2016

He might be 87 years old but Ennio Morricone is just getting started. The legendary composer has signed a new long-term record deal after his first ever Oscar win.

The Italian, who provided the famous score to Sergio Leone’s western trilogy, has agreed a contract with Decca, which will allow “the Maestro” to record fresh works into his 90s.

    “I’m delighted to be returning to Decca with my own record deal – an extraordinary moment in my 60th professional anniversary year” –

    Ennio Morricone

Morricone will celebrate a career spanning 60 years with a new album, in which he revisits some of his most famous compositions, with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

With more than 500 scores already to his name, Morricone has been energised by his soundtrack for The Hateful Eight, the western by long-term fan Quentin Tarantino, which delivered the musician his first Original Score Oscar win this year.

Rebecca Allen, Managing Director of Decca Records, said the Morricone 60 album, released in October, would be the first of several new recordings.

“It is the start of an exciting new collaboration between Decca and the Maestro, and we look forward to working together on future projects to bring his phenomenal music to fans worldwide,” she said.

It was a “great honour” to be sign Morricone, whose “iconic scores have inspired artists, film-makers and music-lovers around the world for generations. We have waited over 60 years to sign this legendary artist and are thrilled to welcome him to Decca Records – also 87 years strong!”

Morricone, who will conduct a performance featuring highlights from his career at Blenheim Palace this month, said: “After the success of The Hateful Eight score, I’m delighted to be returning to Decca with my own record deal – an extraordinary moment in my 60th professional anniversary year.

“It’s been a wonderful experience to be able to conduct my scores and to record these with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. The quality of their performance of my work is truly outstanding.”

The new album features music from his atmospheric soundtracks to the “spaghetti westerns” Once Upon a Time in the West and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly as well as landmark themes from films including Once Upon a Time in America, The Mission, and Cinema Paradiso.