Lo scopone scientifico

Quartet Records, in collaboration with Camille 3000 and the Piero Piccioni estate, presents the premiere CD release of a delightful score by Piero Piccioni for Luigi Comencini's film Lo scopone scientifico, a 1973 Italian comedy-drama starring Alberto Sordi, Silvana Mangano, Joseph Cotten and Bette Davis. The story is about an aging and wealthy American woman who journeys to Rome each year with her chauffeur, George, to play the card game scopone with destitute Peppino and his wife, Antonia. The annual scenario remains unchanged: she donates the initial stakes, then ultimately wins the game, shattering the couple's dream of scoring a victory and improving their lot in life. Eventually their daughter, Cleopatra, seeks revenge on her parents' behalf.

Piero Piccioni composed a colorful, bittersweet score, dominated by a celebrated theme for piano and orchestra, as well as a beautiful love theme. The score also features a bossa, a waltz and a tango. A coveted promotional LP was released by General Music in 1973, currently one of the composer's most expensive LPs when one appears on the second-hand market. This is the first CD edition thanks to the discovery of the original tapes vaulted at the Piccioni estate. The album has been restored and mastered by Chris Malone, and is packaged in a three-sided folding digipack.