The Cello Concerto No. 2 is Nino Rota's third contribution to the genre, but he does not include the early Cello Concerto dating back to 1925 in his own list of works: this composition only received its very much delayed first performance in Milan in November 2010. The much later Cello Concerto No. 2 was created around the same time as Rota's work on the soundtrack for The Godfather II for which the composer received an Oscar in 1975. Although there are no direct quotations from the film-track in this concerto, the section in 6/8-time displays a slight hint of the well-known Sicilian Pastorale.

The last of three Concertos for Violoncello and Orchestra by the famous film composer combines in two movements soloistic virtuosity with the characteristic style of Mediterranean folk tunes - now also available as piano score.

(La Califfa) "The Lady Caliph" Music from Motion Pictures.

This arrangement by Armand Broshka include "Dinner" & "Nocturne", almost identical with the original arrangement made by Ennio Morricone for the cellist Yo-Yo Ma in 2004. Listen to the link on YouTube and the audio file extracted directly from this professional arrangement. We assure you that the final result of this arrangement will sound like the original version played by cellist Yo-Yo Ma with the Roma Simfonietta in "Yo-Yo- Ma plays Ennio Morricone" CD. (Total performance time - ca. 6:25)
(Score + Set of Parts)

In 1972 Nino Rota composed his Cello Concerto No. 1. the actual date of the world premiere, however, remains unknown today. In contrast to his Cello Concerto No. 2, he refers here to the late Romantic solo concerto: The larger orchestra is given a more important function, and the thematic material is characterized by a striking chromaticism.