MAURIZIO MALAGNINI, AN ITALIAN IN PARADISE - INTERVIEW WITH THE COMPOSER OF "THE PARADISE" SOUNDTRACK

Are you enjoying The Paradise on BBC One or Masterpiece PBS? Have you noticed how beautiful its soundtrack is? My guest today is the composer of the wonderful music accompanying Denise and Moray's story. His name is Maurizio Malagnini. He  is an Italian composer based in London whose work spans drama, animation, documentaries. His music has been broadcast internationally on the main European networks BBC1, BBC2, ITV, MTV, SKY, RAI. He has produced his scores for the Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, L'Ensemble dell'Opera di Roma and his own ensemble, Cinema Paradiso. 

Maurizio has composed scores for popular BBC Series such as "The Body Farm" and The Paradise (Series 1 and 2). Could this lovely costume series be the same without his brilliant score?  I’m sure you have noticed how good the soundtrack for Denise and Moray’slove story is! Are you ready to meet its composer? Welcome Maurizio Malagnini at Fly High and enjoy our little chat below. By the way, don't forget that The Paradise series 2 goes on BBC1 every Sunday night and, if you live in the US,  season 1 is going to end soon on PBS Masterpiece. 

Maurizio Malagnini rehearsing with the BBC Concert Orchestra

What’s the life of an Italian living in London like? Hard? Very hard? Not hard at all? I mean, are there things you miss terribly or can you easily cope with the differences ?

THE PARADISE: WHAT'S IN STORE FOR DENISE AND MORAY IN THE UPCOMING NEW SERIES?

Emun Elliot as John Moray

US costume drama fans will finally have the chance to make their acquaintance with the charming protagonists of BBC series The Paradise tonight, October 6,  thanks to PBS Masterpiece. Episode 1 will introduce them into the world of Mr Moray, the alluring department store he manages in Durham, a town in the North of England,  where strong-willed and ambitious Denise Lovett starts working as a shop girl. The story is loosely based  on Emile Zola's   Au Bonheur des Dames.

BBC 1 viewers,  instead, were left at the end of series 1 in November 2012 with a romantic cliffhanger and are eagerly waiting for season 2, which premiers on 20th October! (watch trailer) . And they wonder: What's in store for Denise and Moray in the new episodes? What about the Glendennings, Katherine and her father? I've tried to guess what series 2 could be like in one of my posts about this series but, apparently, I was wrong ... well,  not completely though. Now I must warn you: don't read on ,  if you mind spoilers!

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PARADISE SERIES 2? HERE'S SOMETHING TO FILL IN THE WAITING: THE CD OF THE OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK!

While watching and loving The Paradise back in autumn 2012, I immediately noticed that it had perfect music, beautiful soundtrack, didn't you? I particularly liked it and thought it was just brilliant match to the gorgeous locations, perfect costumes and gripping story-line. 

Silva Screen Records release the soundtrack for the BBC series The Paradise just today! The set includes a beautiful booklet with images from the BBC drama.

Series 1 of The Paradise was broadcast on BBC 1 from 25 September to 13 November 2012 and is now going to premiere on American PBS on  October 6th.  

No dates yet for series two on BBC1. They are still shooting it in the North of England and promised their fans series 2 for next autumn.

THE PARADISE 2: BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS

Chronicle Live UK published a gallery of pictures from the set of the Paradise 2. 

SHOOTING HAS STARTED FOR THE PARADISE SERIES 2

Apparently they started shooting THE PARADISE series 2 at last! (Check HERE but beware of spoilers!)

Do you remember? A couple of months ago I was wondering what would happen at the beginning of the new series in one of my posts , which has become quite popular in fact being the one with the highest number of hits in the latest weeks. The worries I wrote about  have just been dissolved by the article I linked above. If you are as curious as me, just follow the link,  but I must warn you, there may be a huge spoiler and if you prefer to be surprised, don't click and go on reading here.

HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND WITH GREAT PERIOD DRAMA SERIES: LABYRINTH AND THE VILLAGE

Labyrinth (Channel 4 )

Jessica Brown Findlay, John Hurt, Vanessa Kirby, Emun Elliott, Tom Felton, Sebastian Stan star in a two-part thilller adapted from Kate Mosse's bestselling novel, linking the lives of two women born centuries apart: Labyrinth. Already broadcast in different countries, Labyrinth will be on British Channel 4 on Saturday March 30th and Sunday March 31st, 9 pm.

Emun Elliott and Tom Felton

Jessica Brown Findlay is the protagonist of the moving romance subplot with Emun Elliott. You may remember them as the protagonists of two popular costume series, respectively Downton Abbey (Lady Sybil) and The Paradise (Mr Moray) . Romance is only one of the elements in this epic mini-series produced by Ridley Scott and shot between South Africa and France with an international cast. It is a historical thriller with a gripping plot based on real historical events like the Crusade against the Catars.

BBC THE PARADISE SERIES 2 - WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO DENISE & MORAY?

Emun Elliott and Joanna Vanderham as Moray and Denise - Series 1

You know I really loved this series, more than Downton Abbey and - though I am enjoying watching it at present- more than Mr Selfridge. It is because I got to really care for Denise and her Mr Moray. While I actually have no favourites in Downton Abbey or Mr Selfridge.

Denise and Moray. We left them like this (see the picture above) at the end of series 1 of The Paradise. 

Denise and Moray in seventh heaven, ready to defy the entire world, well, especially the Glendennings who we knew were waiting for John Moray at church for his wedding with Katherine. 

That final gratification seemed rushed to me and I had a strange feeling: it was too  soon,  too  weird after the long scene in which Denise tried to convince John that he couldn't renounce everything for her because  he would lose what he had fought for, he would risk not only his own future but also that of the many people working for him.

COMEDY AND COMEDIANS, TRYING TO MAKE LIFE LIGHTER. THREESOME + ME & MRS JONES

I've been watching comedy. Something definitely unusual for me. Fact is that my wish for escapism is growing fast and furious. I'm getting rather anxious lately. The passing of time can be fairly depressing by itself (remember Mrs Dalloway?), add people around you aging and being unwell and the situation can become quite distressing; add three men at home = no help, no sympathy;  friends? taken by thousands of big litlle problems just like yours,  they may seem really distant though near. Hence,  what can one do? Trying to escape. Where to?  Into a lighter world made up of  surreal situations and hilarious events, absurd characters and funny anecdotes. Laughing can be the cure. Sometimes.

VICTORIAN HEROES: MR MORAY vs MR THORNTON

Too great a temptation. Comparing them, I mean.  I was thinking: what about making  them compete in a challenge?  John Thornton from Milton, the hero of BBC North and South (2004) facing Mr John E. Moray from BBC The Paradise (2012). But what kind of a competition? Kind of “who makes more money in given time”? The  two men are quite competitive, as a matter of fact.  However, since I couldn't find any good idea for a competition, what about simply comparing them? Without even asking you to choose who’s better  or to pick up a favourite. Well, you can do that, if you wish, of course. Just choose your champion and tell us in your comments. As for me,  I won't do that, I’ll just draw a comparison between the two characters trying to point out  similarities and differences. Don't ask me to choose.