Alhambra Records proudly presents on this CD the world premiere release of Angelo Francesco Lavagnino’s complete original score for the 1962 adventure movie LA LEGGENDA DI FRA DIAVOLO which was directed by Leopoldo Savona and starred American actor Tony Russel as Fra Diavolo besides Haya Harareet, Mario Adorf, Claudia Mori and Amedeo Nazzari in supporting roles.

During the end of the 18th century Fra Diavolo had been a famous Neapolitan guerrilla leader who resisted the French occupation of Naples and together with his ruthless gang of bandits fought for the Bourbon Kingdom. His name received legendary status during the 19th century so that he became the subject of an opera by Daniel Auber, of some novels by Alexandre Dumas and in the 20th century also of several movies.

This rare 1962 costume epic follows Fra Diavolo´s heroic deeds from his first irregular raids on the French invaders in the hills and mountains of the Kingdom of Naples to his official recruitment by the exiled King Ferdinand and ends with his public hanging when he gets finally captured by the Napoleonic troops in 1806. Besides all those battles he has to fight Fra Diavolo is also involved in two love affairs: One with a Neapolitan Countess (Claudia Mori) with whom he has a child and one with the impetuous Fiamma (Haya Harareet) who originally belongs to the bandit gang of his partner Nardone and who will later on become his wife.

This exciting CD project – the 12th CD in our Lavagnino series – has only been possible thanks to the generous support of the three daughters of the composer – Bianca, Iudica and Alessandra Lavagnino -, who still had open reel tape copies of the original mono master tapes in their personal archive which we were allowed to use. Our CD edition which contains a 12-page booklet with extensive liner notes and colour stills from the movie will be limited to 350 copies. -ALHAMBRA RECORDS

1 Main Title 1:52
2 Fra Diavolo ´s Father Gets Captured 0:49
3 The Coach 1:47
4 Encounter with the Countess 1:27
5 The Survivors of the Massacre 1:34
6 Fra Diavolo and Fiamma (Love Scene) 1:32
7 Riding Along the River* 2:14
8 Preparations for the Battle - The Battle 2:50
9 The Bandit ´s Camp 1:40
10 Fra Diavolo Rides Away 0:48
11 The Countess Luisa 3:39
12 Fiamma ´s Jealousy 1:08
13 The Countess Arrives 2:19
14 Refl ections – Fiamma Learns the Truth 2:53
15 Napoleon ´s Proclamation – In the Mountains 1:37
16 The Funeral - Fra Diavolo ´s Decision 4:36
17 Gathering of the Bandit Troops 1:52
18 Fiamma Worries About Fra Diavolo – The Bridge 1:23
19 The Countess and Fra Diavolo's Child 4:48
20 The French Army Prepares for Battle 1:17
21 Before and After the Battle 2:33
22 Tarantella Dance 2:41
23 On the Run 1:55
24 Fiamma ´s Death 2:03
25 The End of Fra Diavolo 2:11
26 The Legend 1:16

Bonus Tracks

27 Calabrisella mia (Folk Song) 1:22
28 Raid on Itri 3:01
29 Colonel Fra Diavolo 0:24
30 Fanfare #1 0:17
31 Fanfare #2 0:26

* damaged track