Ennio Morricone's concert Sunday at Hollywood Bowl appears to be off [Updated]

Culture Monster has learned that film composer Ennio Morricone's concert at the Hollywood Bowl scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, has either been canceled or postponed.

There is no official word yet from event organizers, but people close to the concert indicated that they would issue a statement Thursday morning.

Morricone, who won an honorary Oscar in 2007, was scheduled to conduct the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Angeles Chorale in works from his four-decade career in the movie business.

The concert was supposed to include excerpts from his scores to the movies "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"; "The Untouchables"; "Cinema Paradiso"; "Once Upon a Time in America"; "The Mission"; "Once Upon a Time in the West"; "A Fistful of Dollars"; and others.

Organizers have not given a reason for the cancellation or postponement, nor have they stated how ticket refunds or exchanges would work.

Check back with Culture Monster for updates.

[Updated at 11:30 a.m.]: The concert has officially been canceled. 

Here is the entire statement issued this morning by the show's promoters: "'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' with Ennio Morricone has been canceled. The show was scheduled to play Hollywood Bowl this Sunday, October 25th.  Refunds are available at point of purchase."

-- David Ng

Photo: Ennio Morricone conducting at an August concert in Poland. Credit: Adam Warzawa / EPA

Comments

[otterbop]

so lame.

[RZ]

The show was canceled because of poor sales. Ticket prices were extremely high (up to $250 each) and they were not selling well enough. It's a shame that all the excited fans who bought tickets now have to miss the show simply because of greed.

[bebop]

really truly bummed :(

[WWR]

Really sad... this show was all I could think about for the last week or so. Yeah ticket prices were high but this is one of the greatest film composers of all time with a full orchestra and I can't believe that they couldn't sell enough tickets in LA of all places. Really a shame...

[Raff]

Oh no!! Over the past month I was so looking forwards to this concert.
I hardly go to concerts but this was one I didn't want to miss.

[missynth]

I am truly, TRULY disappointed. So many of my friends were planning on going to this, all of them musicians inspired by his work and so excited to have the opportunity to see him in person. I feel like they just cancelled Christmas or something...so bummed.

[WordTV]

A group of us have been planning on this great evening since we first heard the Maestro was coming to town. Ticket prices too high? What would you have paid for Beethoven or Mozart? We're having a Morricone Movie Marathon instead. What a bummer!!

[Boo]

This event was a dream come true for my boyfriend - I purchased the tickets and we've been so amped over the past few months, it's devistating the show has been cancelled!! I hope Maestro Morricone isn't in poor health and we will be able to see him perform in a postponed show!

[HBO orch member]

There is no proof that "low ticket sales" caused the cancellation. 5000 tix sold is pretty good for a Bowl concert, actually.

[HB Orchestra Member]

5000 seats sold is not a bad showing for a non-scheduled Hollywood Bowl concert--especially at premium prices. It's not necessarily that. Let's just wait and see. The guy's 80 years old. Lots of things could have come up to cancel this concert.

[hadrian]

I was going to cross the country just to see him. Terrible news.

[apple1]

I'm surprised. Not!

Many people who could have afforded high ticket prices a year or two ago, may be out of work and out of money. This might have been a time to set ticket prices a bit lower than usual. It's a shame the concert was canceled. Morrecone at the Bowl is great fit. I'm disappointed.

Why didn't the article mention the ticket price issue?

[Mark from Redondo]

My only conecern when I bought the tickets was the weather condition of the night. Little did I dreamed of it ever being cancelled, whatever the reason!
I sincerely hope the reason has nothing to do with the health of the great composer.
I hope also to see him play in town real soon.

[kat]

The fact that they've waited this long to announce a cancellation is deplorable. Clearly, if there is an illness, that could not be avoided but if this concert was canceled for any other reason, the promoters should be shot.

[janecovey]

We had decided to go to the Golden State Pops concert instead, Sat night (Stu Phillips and Bear McCreary) - was a tough decision at the time, guess it was the right one! We knew we couldn't afford both in one weekend, Golden State Pops was cheaper and slightly more interesting...

[kat]

@janecovey
You're lucky. We decided to see Ennio instead of U2 because we knew it was an opportunity not to be missed. Clearly, we did not choose wisely.

[EMbuff]

Too bad. I sincerely hope this is rescheduled. I think the U2 concert took the wind out this concert's sail..........

[Danny]

The tickets cost too much to this concert. It was pretty outrageous how much the tickets were. I heard they canceled for low ticket sales, but what do you expect? Even the benches were costly and then Ticketmaster tacked on their 3 bogus charges for another $15. I hope ticketmaster implodes.

[Roy Zu-Arets]

So sorry the Maestro could not make it. I wanted to welcome him in my own way.

http://royzumusic.posterous.com/welcome-ennio-morricone-to-hollywood-the-vibe