TO ROME WITH LOVE - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2012)

If you had adored Woody Allen’s film featuring intertwining tales of a worker, an architect, a young couple and a frustrated opera director – all set in the romantic city of Rome, then this soundtrack album would be your cup of tea. Featuring 49 minutes of music that’s evidently Italian, the album may not appeal to your regular pop song addict who’s used to saccharine love songs and thumping techno tunes.

The soundtrack kicks off with “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)”, a graceful track which sets the tone for the entire disc. Following that is the spirited “Amada mia, amore mio”, a cue clearly meant for those with acquired music taste.

The true test of whether this soundtrack will suit your taste is “E Lucevan Le Stele” (from Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca) and “Nessun Dorma” (from Turandot, also by Giacomo Puccini) two opera selections which will, if you have seen the film, remind you of the character singing in the shower.

Other opera cues include “Son Qua, Son Qua”, “Vesti La Giubba” and “Duetto e Finale”, three selections from Pagliacci, an Italian opera with music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo.

Elsewhere, you will continue to imagine yourself walking the streets of Italy with cues like the breezy “Mio Dolce Sogno” and the elegant “Non Dimenticar Le Mie Parole”/ While we will not pretend to fully appreciate the cultural intricacies represented on this album, it is still somewhat still a pleasant listening experience which will transport you to the other side of this planet, where conventional bubblegum mainstream pop isn’t the norm.

ALBUM RATING:

Recommended Track: (1) Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno

Review by John Li