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Ennio Morricone’s Birthday Bonanza Begins - Pitchfork

Celine Dion records a track of herself gargling cake in tribute
Today, November 10, is Ennio Morricone's 78th birthday, and to celebrate, the excellent Italian film composer announced that next year he will conduct a 200-piece orchestra and choir in the performance of some of his most well-known works for his first U.S. concert ever. The event will take place February 3 at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. (Rumors have swirled that Morrissey may join him at the concert.)

New York's Museum of Modern Art will join in the festivities with screenings of six Morricone-scored films in its collection. Those films are The Battle of Algiers, Once Upon a Time in the West, Two Mules for Sister Sara, Once Upon a Time in America, The Mission, and U Turn. MoMA will run them from February 1 to February 7.

Now for the bad and the ugly: the requisite Morricone tribute album, which is scheduled for release in the spring and will feature contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Metallica (who regularly open shows with Morricone's "L'Estasi dell'Oro" from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly soundtrack), Yo-Yo Ma, the Simon Cowell-from-"American Idol"-designed international "popera" group Il Divo, and Celine Dion. Better yet, according to a press release, "Celine Dion's track was produced by Quincy Jones, marking the first time the two artists have worked together." Finally!