Welles-Lavagnino scores receive CD release

[Jeff Wilson]

A label called Alhambra Records has been doing an ongoing series of releases of Angelo Francesco Lavagnino's movie work, and the next release is dedicated to his three scores for Welles: Othello, Falstaff, and Merchant of Venice. While Othello gets only three tracks (albeit from the original recordings, the first time I'm aware that they've seen a release), Merchant of Venice features several of the original recordings, as well as a new suite of Merchant's score re-recorded for this release. The Falstaff selections include several tracks not previously released. Only 300 copies are being produced; details can be found here. Screen Archives Entertainment has it for pre-order in the US, as well as the web site linked above.

[Wellesnet]

Thanks Jeff, good find! I hope they reconsider that 300 limit.
Here's the link to the Screen Archives ordering page for those in the U.S. who are interested:
https://www1.screenarchives.com/title_d ... 0-EDITION/

[Terry]

Sounds fabulous. 300 copies? The Welles market must be larger than that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXpfaWxwC_0

[RayKelly]

My copy arrived today and I listened to a bit of it in the car during a short drive. The sound quality was first rate and the packaging (jewel case with booklet and color inlay) was handsome.

[Le Chiffre]

Lavagnino wrote and recorded the short original score (for Merchant) which is only about 15 minutes long in just 2-3 days. He didn´t even want any fee from Welles, but in the end received 12 paintings of various Shakespeare characters which Welles had drawn on the back of his cigar boxes – a few of them can now be seen on the cover and within the booklet of our CD.

I like what I've heard of the Merchant music so far. I wonder how that Tarentella fits in to the story. That's great that they were willing to share those paintings on the cover art.