The grand composer and two-time Oscar-winner, Ennio Morricone, died the morning of July 6 in a hospital in Rome. He was 91 years old and had broken his femur only a few days before. His lawyer says he received the comfort of faith and that he was accompanied by his family.
One of his final works was a “Mass for Pope Francis.” He dedicated it to the pontiff on the 200th anniversary of the restoration of the Jesuits, in the Gesù church in Rome.
The Italian composer was one of the greats of 20th-century cinema. Soundtracks like those for “The Mission” and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” have been engraved in the collective memory of entire generations.
During the quarantine, young people like Jacopo played Morricone's most famous songs from the balconies of their homes in Rome. The virus allowed the whole country to come to terms with its fragility. Morricone's songs reminded them that even the person next door can attain great heights, just like the Italian composer did when he conquered Hollywood.
Javier Romero
Translation: Claudia Torres
