Sunflower by Henry Mancini (Quartet release #100)

[Jay 32,087]

World premiere release of the unfogettable Henry Mancini score, one of his most romantic scores.

In 1970, legendary actor-director Vittorio De Sica and famed producer Carlo Ponti joined forces to make Sunflower (also known by its original Italian title, I Girasoli). Set mostly in the wake of World War II, the film follows an Italian woman named Giovanna (Sophia Loren) as she searches across Russia for any trace of her vanished husband, Antonio (Marcello Mastroianni). What she discovers will change her life forever. The film received notable praise for the impassioned performance of Sophia Loren (who won a David di Donatello Award in Italy for Best Actress) and its breathtaking, Oscar-nominated score from composer Henry Mancini.

At the time he was asked to score Sunflower, Henry Mancini (1924-1994) was a legend in his field. His unforgettable melodies for director Blake Edwards, in particular, had brought him internacional renown. The composer was specially sought after by De Sica and Ponti—who agreed on little but that Mancini was the perfect choice for their film. Mancini fully justified their confidence by producing one of his most beautiful and dramatic scores. Its twin love themes, capturing the rich flavors of both Italy and Russia, are exquisitely balanced between romantic longing and painful melancholy; while powerful themes for the characters’ journeys add depth and pathos. Sunflower earned Mancini an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Original Score, and inspired the hit song “Loss of Love,” with lyrics by Bob Merrill. It was especially successful in Japan, where Mancini’s celebrity rose to new heights.

Although Sunflower was a very famous score and the LP released at this date was an incredible success (having been reissued several times on CD, though always in Japan), this is the premiere release of the complete score, including every note written by Mancini for the film (even several cues that ultimately were not included in the final cut of the film). For this definitive presentation we have included the complete score written for the film on disc one, carefully mastered by Claudio Fuiano from the first generation mono tapes -the film was mixed in mono- recently found in Italy. On disc two we have included the remastered album version in full stereo, from its original sources courtesy of Studio Canal. The package includes a 20-page full color booklet with liner notes and track-by-track analysis by film music specialist John Takis.

Enjoy one of the most radiant and melodic works of Henry Mancini, it is also our 100th release!. And many more on the way…

DISC ONE

THE COMPLETE FILM SCORE

01. Main Title (2:29)

02. Love in the Sand** (4:30)

03. The Wedding Night* (4:20)

04. Last Memories (0:32)

05. The Retreat (5:13)

06. The Photo of Antonio (0:37)

07. The Search** (5:04)

08. Son of the Search (0:56)

09. The Cemetery (0:33)

10. Tu sei Italiano? (1:25)

11. Without Hopes* (1:16)

12. Masha* (2:12)

13. Masha Finds Antonio (3:39)

14. The Station (2:04)

15. The Broken Photo (0:43)

16. Giovanna's New Life* (0:59)

17. The Visit of the Mama (1:31)

18. Antonio's Flashback* (0:47)

19. New Home in Moscow (1:15)

20. Masha and Antonio (1:57)

21. The Appointment (1:20)

22. The Invitation* (2:08)

23. The Parting in Milan (3:27)

24. End Titles (1:10)

25. Love Theme From "Sunflower" – demo (Piano: Henry Mancini) (1:45)

26. Loss of Love (Vocal) (3:22)

Total Disc One: 55:41

**Does not appear in the film

**Contains previously unreleased material

DISC TWO

THE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM

01. Love Theme From "Sunflower" (2:29)

02. Masha's Theme (1:59)

03. Giovanna (1:58)

04. The Search (4:22)

05. Love in the Sand (3:04)

06. New Home in Moscow (1:22)

07. Two Girls (2:11)

08. The Retreat (5:11)

09. The Invitation (2:07)

10. Masha Finds Antonio (3:37)

11. The Parting in Milan (3:22)

Total Disc Two: 30:01

http://www.quartetrecords.com/sunflower.html

[gkgyver 1,643]

Love Mancini. Should be an instant buy.