By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
One cannot imagine films without decent music scores, key elements in heightening dramatic moments.
At the Olympic Park Gymnastic Stadium, Ennio Morricone, legendary Italian composer and conductor, created cinematic images through beautiful film scores with his orchestra at his first concert in Seoul.
The 79-year-old virtuoso, who wrote more than 400 film scores, led more than 8,000 Korean audience members into cinematic nostalgia with memorable pieces such as ``A Fistful of Dollars'' (1964), ``For a Few Dollars More'' (1965), ``The Good the Bad and the Ugly (1966)'' and ``Once Upon a Time in the West'' (1968).
He performed with more than 80 members of the Rome Symphony Orchestra and 100 chorus members under the five themes _ Life and Legend, Social Cinema, Scattered Sheets, The Modernity of Myth in Sergio Leone Cinema and Tragic, Lyric and Epic Cinema _ during the concert.
The maestro flexed his still-vigorous prowess, undaunted by age.
The audience erupted when he opened the stage with ``The Untouchables (from the film).''
Korean fans gave a thunderous applause at their favorite scores from the ``Mission,'' ``The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'' and ``Once Upon A Time in America.''
At the peak of the show, soprano Susanna Rigacci joined the orchestra and immediately raised the atmosphere of the concert with her wonderful voice.
After conducting the masterful pieces, the veteran maestro received a standing a ovation from the audience and responded with encore performances with ``Nuovo Cinema Paradiso'' and ``Malena.''
He did not forget to respond with respectful bows to endless applauses from the audiences after the two-and-half-hour show.
The concert was also graced with strong colorful back lighting and flown - hung on rigging - audio equipment.
But the concert revealed limits of unorganized management of big-name concerts yet again, infuriating the audience.
There was confusion among the audience because there was no staff and no signs to guide them into the stadium. So many had to wait in the wrong lines at the wrong entrances around several stadium gates. Some arrived late after being led to the wrong gates and were not allowed to enter until the interval began between each section.
Also during the concert, there was a technical sound glitch, which created a short noise. But the orchestra and the maestro were never disturbed and calmly finished the performances.
The most beloved Italian composer, especially noted for his film scores, has composed and arranged scores for more than 400 film and television productions.
His pieces as such have been frequently cited by many in the film industry as some of the greatest film scores ever composed.
After the two-day concert, Morricone will participate in the Pusan International Film Festival, which will kick off on Oct. 4.