"The Last Butterfly" is the final film score written by the great Alex North in a career that began nearly forty years earlier with the inestimable score he provided for Elia Kazan's "A Streetcar Named Desire". His work remained, to the end, as precious as a fine rare jewel. The title of this film could have been a tribute to the composer himself. The album consists of about 20 minutes of music written by the Maestro, interspersed with music by Milan Svoboda.
1. Main Title - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
2. Antonie's New Digs - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
3. Foxtrot In Cabaret - Stepan Konicek
4. Mr. Grondin Pantomime - Milan Svoboda
5. Antonie's Payoff Music - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
6. Michelle's Demise - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
7. The Flashback - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
8. The Nightmare Begins - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
9. The Gordian Knot - Stepan Konicek
10. Afternoon Coffee - Alex North/Jazzfonic Orchestra
11. Things Don't, People Do - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
12. Avinu Malkenu - Alex North/Jewish Chorus
13. Snow White Ballet - Stepan Konicek
14. Signs Of Spring - Hana Hegerova
15. The Hit - Alex North/Jazzfonic Orchestra
16. Butterfly - Ivan Zeaty
17. The Red Umbrella - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
18. Ocarina Yiddish Dance - Vaclav Sykora
19. Save Stella - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
20. The Last Preformance - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
21. Hansel & Gretel Ballet - Stepan Konicek
22. Lulinka - Vida Skalska
23. End Title - Marlo Klemens/The Prague Film Symphony Orchestra
The musical landscape of this album drifts by seamlessly from one vignette to the other. North's more studious compositions dance a charming pas de duex with Svoboda's folk-inspired pieces, and the chamber pieces harmonized gracefully with the cafe waltzes. For Alex North this is a beautiful elegy derived from the soul of a man obviously at peace with himself and his years. In his own typically unique and self-effacing way, the Maestro, with this work, bid a final and affectionate farewell to us all.
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