May 14, 2010

By By Crystal Bell, London

New Zealand-born soprano Hayley Westenra will team up with veteran Italian composer and conductor Ennio Morricone for her forthcoming classical studio album, set for international release in October 2010.

The album will feature new songs written by Morricone, as well as some of the composer's best-known film compositions from the last 50 years. Morricone's orchestra will start recording in Rome this summer.

The album, which remains untitled, will be released through Decca Records, a Universal Music Group Label.

"Growing up, I unknowingly listened to a great deal of Ennio Morricone's magnificent music, such as the haunting melodies of 'Cinema Paradiso' and 'The Mission,'" said Westenra in a statement. "To one day realize that all these pieces were the work of just one man blew my mind. Ennio Morricone is a musical genius and I still can't quite believe that I'm going to be collaborating with him on a whole album."

Westenra's debut album "Pure" has sold over 4 million copies to date, according to the label.

Morricone received an honorary Academy Award in 2007 for his contribution to the art of film music.

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