Complete Orchestral Music

Respighi is best remembered for his scenic views of Rome, namely the wonderfully descriptive triptych Feste romane, Fontane di Roma and Pini di Roma; look beyond these works, however, and youll find a sizeable, rich and varied orchestral output unsurprising for a composer who is today regarded as one of the supreme masters of orchestration. Anyone interested in a Respighi orchestral intégrale, therefore, should seriously consider this comprehensive set a bringing-together of four previously released volumes in which Francesco La Vecchia and his Roman orchestra unite the famous with a generous helping of not-so-famous works. Of Volume 4 (CDs 5 and 6), Gramophone commented on how ""La Vecchia directs proceedings with obvious affection, and the playing has engaging spirit and no mean grace"", and this certainly applies to the rest of the set, which includes a number concertante offerings played by several assured performers cellist Andrea Noferini, for example, creates an ""impassioned, songful"" rendition of Adagio con variazioni, and pianist Désirée Scuccuglia gives a red-blooded and formidably secure account (Gramophone) of Concerto in modo misolidio. Italys musical past is of course in evidence throughout the box, for the composer spent much of his career arranging Baroque music and experimenting with neo-Classical techniques; theres a deft account of The Birds (Gli uccelli), Respighis most exciting example of early music (here Baroque harpsichord pieces), with Concerto a cinque taking the form of an updated Corellian concerto grosso. Covering the period 190233, the works cover the majority of Respighis working career and serve to highlight his unique and colourful sound world, simultaneously tracing his development of style.

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