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Compilation: Tutto Fellini - CAM's Soundtrack Encyclopedia
Nino ROTA and others including Nicola Piovani, Mario Nascimbene and Luis E. Bacalov
CAM 2CDs CSE001 [104:58]
CAM Original Soundtracks

CD1
1 LUCI DEL VARIETA' FELICE LATTUADA 05:02
2 LO SCEICCO BIANCO NINO ROTA 02:34
3 I VITELLONI NINO ROTA 02:10
4 AMORE IN CITTA' (EP. AGENZIA MATRIMONIALE) MARIO NASCIMBENE 03:37
5 LA STRADA NINO ROTA 03:27
6 IL BIDONE NINO ROTA 02:55
7 LE NOTTI DI CABIRIA NINO ROTA 04:37
8 LA DOLCE VITA NINO ROTA 06:24
9 BOCCACCIO '70 (EP. LE TENTAZIONI DEL DOTTOR ANTONIO) NINO ROTA 02:02
10 OTTO E MEZZO NINO ROTA 04:27
11 GIULIETTA DEGLI SPIRITI NINO ROTA 04:05
12 TRE PASSI NEL DELIRIO (EP. TOBY DAMMIT) NINO ROTA 04:31
13 FELLINI SATYRICON NINO ROTA 02:03
14 I CLOWNS NINO ROTA 05:29
15 ROMA NINO ROTA 03:58
CD 2
1 AMARCORD NINO ROTA 06:13
2 IL CASANOVA DI FEDERICO FELLINI NINO ROTA 11:12
3 PROVA D'ORCHESTRA NINO ROTA 03:57
4 LA CITTA' DELLE DONNE LUIS BACALOV 06:34
5 E LA NAVE VA GIAN FRANCO PLENIZIO 07:36
6 GINGER E FRED NICOLA PIOVANI 03:08
7 INTERVISTA NICOLA PIOVANI 04:12
8 LA VOCE DELLA LUNA NICOLA PIOVANI 03:35

What a wonderful idea celebrating the films of Federico Fellini with music from all of them: Lucia del varietà (Variety Lights) (1950) to La voce della luna (The Voice of the Moon) (1989). A glimpse at the full list of contents of this double album shows that most of the scores are by Nino Rota. It was Rota who set the Fellini film music pattern: quirky, jazzy, brilliantly kaleidoscopic, often circus or fairground orientated, sometimes nostalgic or sentimental; always perfectly matching the often enigmatic yet absorbing screenplays; and always so Italian.

The music here recorded is brilliantly played and sounds sparkling in remastered Dolby Surround Sound. A lavish 64-page booklet accompanies the CDs. It is only published in Italian, yet this should prove no real obstacle. Each film enjoys a double page spread with stills from the film or poster designs, cheeky cartoons of the stars in character and easy-to-read-and-understand formulaic listings of composers, and other information including the stars and the year each film was made.

All the great music is here: the vibrant, heady gaiety of Variety Lights; the sentimental, comic pretentions of I Vitelloni (The Spivs); the beloved quirky strains and clownish attitudes of La Strada; and the gritty, sophisticated, hedonistic music for La Dolce Vita contrasting with the beautifully romantic mandolin music from Le notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria) and the haunting nostalgia of the Amarcord score. There are the catchy tunes we associate with 8½ and Boccaccio '70, delightful, high spirited and romantic; as well as the lesser known scores like Fellini's Casanova with its lampooning of the character and baroque styles.

Rota's style is seamlessly emulated and developed in scores by Bacalov (the jazzy La Citta' delle donna - City of Women), Piovani (the affectionate parody of Rogers and Astaire musicals in Ginger e Fred) and Piovani (the lovely sentimental La voce della luna - The Voice of the Moon with its atmospheric piano and accordion music).

A compilation to savour and treasure.

Ian Lace

Grace Barber adds:-

A delightful compilation with a broad range of styles and rhythms from the pen of one of Italy's greatest composers of this genre. The opening track on CD1 (Rota's Variety Lights) serves as a brilliant overture to the whole compilation: its fast, furious and fun. There were so many selections I admired: the swagger of I Vitelloni (Spivs); the catchy and romantic Latin rhythms of L'amore in Citta' (Love in the City); the naughty sultry, seductive La Dolce Vita score; the dreamy, evocative Juliet of the Spirits music with its imaginative orchestrations; the vibrant and colourful circus music for I Clowns; and Casanova - the joker in the pack, mordant and penetrating wit; contrasting with the seductive tango sequence in La voce della luna that will get you on your feet.

A most welcome addition to any collection, whether one is a film buff or not. It's full of wonderful tunes, very evocative and great fun. Treat yourself to a treat.

Grace Barber

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