Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Roman Festivals
Published:
COMPOSERS: Respighi
LABELS: Sony Essential Classics
WORKS: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Roman Festivals
PERFORMER: Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy
CATALOGUE NO: SBK 48 267 ADD (1958/61)
Panoramic snapshots of Rome ancient and modern, this trilogy of symphonic poems was completed between 1917 and 1929. How committed to the composer’s vision is Ormandy? In Festivals he gets it right. In a dynamically narrower, unclearly focused Pines and Fountains – pale by comparison with the autocratic fire of Toscanini, the inspirational genius of Reineror the awesome sonics of a latterday Ozawa – he doesn’t. Fierce orchestral climaxes. Undetailed texture. Ates Orga