Arguably the finest pairings of composer and director in cinematic history have been
Bernard Herrmann with
Alfred Hitchcock and that of
Nino Rota with
Federico Fellini.
Casanova, the last great
Rota/
Fellini collaboration, shows composer
Rota at peak form. Whether employing a glass harmonica, music box motifs, electric pianos, or a full-blown operatic choir and orchestra, the maestro's distinctive sound palette and slightly off-kilter melodies evoke various shades of melancholia to haunting effect.
Fellini made films after
Rota's death, but they lacked the magical mood that
Rota's music created. ~ Rick Watrous