Rome (AFP)

Here are the main reactions to the death of the Italian maestro Ennio Morricone, 91, who became legend with his music for westerns, but also his symphonies.

- Jean-Michel Jarre, French musician -

"Ennio Morricone was" a constant source of inspiration, like a member of my family. It's like a member of my family, it's weird to say that when I have a great composer of film music in my family (his father, Maurice), but Morricone is part of my intimacy, he was ubiquitous in my life. Without Morricone, like many other musicians I think, I would not be there in the same way ".

- Gilles Jacob, former director of the Cannes festival -

"Ennio Morricone the emperor of music in the cinema, a harmonica, rhythms, melodies, unexpected instruments, trills, 3 notes easy to remember, the lavishness of his scores".

- Riccardo Muti, Italian conductor -

"A master for whom I cherished friendship and admiration. An extraordinary musician good not only for film music but also for classical compositions. He will be missed as a man and as an artist".

- Monica Bellucci, Italian actress -

"There are people who have the ability to make the world a better place because they know how to create beauty."

- Vasco Rossi, the "Johnny Hallyday Italian" -

"The artist's privilege is to die knowing that his art will never die".

- Jan Hasenohrl, Czech trumpeter -

"The news was shocking despite his age, we all secretly hoped to be able to play music with him again. I would love to hear him yell at me again. I'm very sad, it was fantastic to work with him. "

- Edgar Wright, British director -

Ennio Morricone was able "to transform an average film into a must-see film, a good film in art and a very good film in legend".

- Daniel Pemberton, British film music composer -

"You were my idol. Thank you maestro"

- Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic -

"The death of Ennio Morricone deprives us of an eminent and brilliant artist (...) who left a deep imprint in the musical history of the second half of the 20th century. Through his film scores he contributed to important way to spread and strengthen the prestige of Italy in the world ".

- Giuseppe Conte, head of the Italian government -

"We will remember forever and with infinite recognition the artistic genius of Maestro Ennio Morricone. He made us dream, he moved us and made us think, writing unforgettable notes that will forever remain in the history of music and cinema".

- Pedro Sanchez, head of the Spanish government -

Ennio Morricone was the author "of more than 500 soundtracks of films some of which, like Cinema Paradiso, considered as authentic masterpieces".

© 2020 AFP