Cleopatra (1963 soundtrack)

Cleopatra: The Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Alex North
Released	1963 (composition; initial vinyl releases) 1997 (original CD release) 2001 (complete Varèse Sarabande release)
Recorded	1963
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	74:27
Label	Tsunami
Producer	Alex North

The soundtrack of Cleopatra was composed by Alex North and was recorded and produced in 1963. This article focuses on the remastered, digital-era re-releases of the soundtrack, rather than the initial vinyl selection of pieces from the score.

Releases

The soundtrack of Cleopatra was released on Compact Disc in two different versions at two different times. The original vinyl selection of tracks had long gone out of print before digital restorations of the soundtrack was released.^[1] The versions are as follows:

• The limited edition 1997 Tsunami Records (an independent German record label) release, which contained selected tracks, not representing the complete range of tracks heard in the film. The Tsunami release is also considered to be of an inferior sound quality and was made redundant by the complete Varèse Sarabande release.^[1]
• The 2001 Varèse Sarabande album, by far the most popular release of the soundtrack of Cleopatra. Running over 151 minutes, the album contains the entire score heard in the film in chronological order. It was released over two discs.

1997 Tsunami album

1. "Overture" – 2:45
2. "Caesar and Cleopatra" – 2:35
3. "The Head of Pompeius" – 2:58
4. "A Gift for Caesar" – 1:49
5. "The Palace of Alexandria" – 2:58
6. "The Fire Burns, The Fire Burns" – 2:03
7. "Taste of Death" – 1:46
8. "A Queen's Bedroom" – 4:59
9. "Conspirations and Conflicts" – 3:55
10. "Anthony and Calpurnia" – 2:05
11. "Caesar's Farewell" – 3:47
12. "Cleopatra Enters Rome" – 6:03
13. "Caesar's Assassination" – 4:38
14. "Epilogue (Act 1)" – 2:24
15. "Anthony and Cleopatra" – 2:20
16. "We Shall Meet in Egypt" – 2:40
17. "Cleopatra's Barge" – 3:02
18. "Anthony's Victory" – 3:22
19. "Love and Hate" – 2:17
20. "My Love is My Master" – 2:12
21. "Anthony's Farewell" – 2:40
22. "Grant Me an Honourable Way to Die" – 2:39
23. "Dying is Less than Love" – 4:31
24. "Anthony... Wait" – 3:59

2001 Varèse Sarabande album

Cleopatra: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Cover for the 2001 Varèse Sarabande release.
Soundtrack album by Alex North
Released	1963 (composition; initial vinyl releases) 1997 (original CD release) 2001 (complete Varèse Sarabande release)
Recorded	1963
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	151:23
Label	Varèse Sarabande
Producer	Alex North

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Disc one

1. "Overture" – 2:42
2. "Main Title" – 2:51
3. "Pharsalia" – 1:17
4. "Caesar to Egypt" – 1:57
5. "The VIPs/King Ptolemy" – 0:59
6. "Pompey's Ring" – 2:53
7. "A Gift for Caesar" – 1:51
8. "Only Yesterday" – 1:31
9. "Epilepsy" – 3:20
10. "Great Library" – 2:05
11. "Moon Gate" – 4:20
12. "Taste of Death" – 1:47
13. "Sympathy" – 1:45
14. "Coronation" – 1:51
15. "Fertility" – 4:49
16. "Alexander's Tomb" – 3:45
17. "Calpurnia" – 1:59
18. "The Fire Burns/Son of Caesar" – 3:43
19. "Caesar's Departure" – 3:40
20. "Cleopatra Enters Rome" – 6:49
21. "By Divine Right" – 2:06
22. "Death in the Garden" – 1:44
23. "Caesar's Assassination" – 4:57
24. "Requiem" – 1:32
25. "Farewell" – 1:39
26. "Entr'acte (Caesar & Cleopatra)" – 2:32
27. "Hail Antony" – 3:12
28. "Isis" – 1:23
29. "Love Theme (Reprise)" – 0:30

Disc two

1. "Cleopatra's Barge" – 2:54
2. "Most Becoming" – 1:38
3. "Food" – 0:54
4. "Antony and Cleopatra in Tarses" – 3:38
5. "Bacchus" – 2:41
6. "Antony and Cleopatra's Love" – 3:10
7. "One Breath Closer" – 2:40
8. "Love and Hate" – 2:16
9. "Athens" – 2:37
10. "Cleopatra's Ambition" – 1:15
11. "War" – 0:44
12. "Interlude/Sea Battle" – 14:36
13. "My Love is My Master" – 4:17
14. "Two Heads" – 0:46
15. "Better Late than Never" – 2:37
16. "Cleopatra's Son/Antony's Camp" – 2:19
17. "Never Fear" – 3:16
18. "Grant Me an Honorable Way to Die" – 2:37
19. "Antony's Retreat/Transitions" – 2:02
20. "Dying is Less than Love" – 4:26
21. "Octavian the Victor" – 4:05
22. "Antony... Wait" – 3:55
23. "Epilogue" – 2:25
24. "Exit Music (Antony & Cleopatra)" – 2:26

Nomination and ratings

The film was nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. On the site Filmtracks.com, the soundtrack is rated 5/5.^[1] Allmusic rates the soundtrack 4.5/5.

See also

• Cleopatra (1963 film)
• Impressions of Cleopatra

References