L'assedio di Siracusa

Digitmovies presents volume XIV of the series dedicated to the Italian peplum by releasing for the very first time the complete OST by Angelo F. Lavagnino for the movie “L’assedio di Siracusa (Archimede)” (aka “Siege of Syracuse”) directed in 1960 by Pietro Francisci and starring Rossano Brazzi,Tina Louise,Sylva Koscina,Enrico Maria Salerno,Gino Cervi, Alberto Farnese,Luciano Marin,Alfredo Varelli. At the time of the Punic wars when the conflict between the Roman Consul Claudio Marcello and the Syracusans is gradually getting stronger, a great man appears among the ranks of the Syracusan warriors: Archimedes. With his brilliance and inventiveness, and thanks to his burning mirrors, Archimedes destroys the Roman ships which have besieged Syracuse. M° Lavagnino’ s symphonic score perfectly combines the two worlds of Archimedes: the really documented historical facts and his private life where his affection is divided between the two beautiful women Diana and Clio. For this love affair Lavagnino has created a very sweet love theme which is one of the most beautiful of his long and prolific career. After the percussive "Prologue" (Tr.1) which describes a bloody massacre on the seashore, the lyrical love theme is introduced in the Main Titles (Tr.2) where it is performed by orchestra and choir. There are further variations of this theme in Tr.4, Tr.7, Tr.8, Tr.9, Tr.11, Tr.20, Tr.21, Tr.22 and in the epic finale (Tr.29). For the character of the dancer Diana, Lavagnino has written exotic music for flutes and percussions (Tr.3, Tr.17) and a powerful orchestral ballet for the scene aboard a ship (Tr.6). The character of Diana is also accompanied by nostalgic themes (Tr.12, Tr.13, Tr.14). A subdued and mystical motif forms the background to the marriage of Archimedes and Clio (Tr.15). Lavagnino alternates romantic themes with other heroic ones such as for the election of the new consul Claudio Marcello (Tr.16). The character of Clio who is so heavily burdened with her private suffering and a whole world that oppresses her, has a despairing and short life in the plot (Tr.18, Tr.21). The mirrors invented by Archimedes, a military machinery of destruction, are used in a bloody marine battle for which the author has composed dramatic symphonic music for brass, percussions and strings (Tr.24, tr, 25, Tr.26). For this CD we could use the complete master tapes in mono which have been preserved in very good conditions in the historical archives of C.A.M. until today. Therefore another important score of the Italian Golden Age could now be restored and preserved with this CD release.