Ennio Morricone announces live return

Film-composer Ennio Morricone announced today that after nearly a year of recovery from a spinal injury, he will resume his European arena tour on February 1st 2015, including playing London's 02 arena on 5 February.

"It is with great joy that I can finally say that I have truly, fully recovered. I am most grateful for the loyalty that my audiences around Europe have shown. It was with great sadness that I have had to cancel and reschedule so many concerts during the past year. I am happy to announce though that nearly all of my concerts that were planned for this December will be rescheduled into my tour coming February and March!" says Morricone.

"Many people have asked if this coming tour is my last one. This is not the case. I feel rested, inspired and excited to be back. I consider it a comeback after a terribly long period of absence. I greatly enjoy conducting my music for my dear audiences and I intend to "conduct myself" in recognition of their esteem and lasting patience"

Asked what audiences may expect on the upcoming tour dates, the Maestro answers: "I had a lot of time on my hands lately and I have been actively preparing the program for 2015. Of course all my best-known work will be performed, but there will be a few interesting surprises too. I will disclose one of those now: besides the usual 170 musicians and singers made up by some of the finest orchestras and choirs that Europe has to offer and the extraordinary soprano Susanna Rigacci, I will be bringing my longtime friend, the great Dulce Pontes on this tour with me!"

With a number of tour dates postponed or rescheduled during the year, Morricone's performance on Thursday 5 February will now be Morricone's only UK concert. Previously scheduled dates in London (10 Dec) Birmingham LG Arena (14 Dec) and Manchester Phone 4U Arena (15 Dec) will no longer go ahead.

Ennio Morricone has composed over 500 scores for cinema and television and is the only film-composer ever in history to have received the honorary Academy Award for his lifetime achievement. Well known highlights include his scores for Once Upon a Time in the West, One Upon a time in America, A Fistful of Dollars, The Untouchables, The Mission, Cinema Paradiso, The Best Offer, etc. Morricone's score for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly holds a number 2 position in the Top 200 ranking of best film soundtracks ever composed.

Morricone's 'My Life in Music -World Tour' tour opened in February 2014 to sell-out arenas, multiple standing ovations and frenetic applause. The tour will resume on February 1st 2015 in Amsterdam and will stop in 20 major European cities.