Respighi: Roman Festivals; Fountains of Rome; Pines of Rome

On this CD:

1. Feste romane (Roman Festivals), symphonic poem, P. 157
Composed by Ottorino Respighi
Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Massimo Freccia

2. Fontane di Roma (The Fountains of Rome), symphonic poem, P. 106
Composed by Ottorino Respighi
Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Massimo Freccia

3. Pini di Roma (The Pines of Rome), symphonic poem, P. 141
Composed by Ottorino Respighi
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Rudolf Kempe

Tracks:

Pines Of Rome: I. Pini di Villa Borghese
Pines of Rome: II. Pini presso una catacomba
Pines of Rome: III. I Pini del Gianicolo
Pines of Rome: IV. I Pini della via Appia
The Fountains Of Rome: I. La fontana di Valle Giulia all'alba
The Fountains Of Rome: II. La fontana di Tritone al mattino
The Fountains Of Rome: III. La fontana di Trevi al meriggio
The Fountains Of Rome: IV. La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto
Roman Festivals: I. Circenses
Roman Festivals: Il. Giubileo
Roman Festivals: III. L'Ottobrata
Roman Festivals: IV. La Befana

Amazon.com

Lorin Maazel and the Pittsburghers give us Respighi's Roman triptych in all its gaudy splendor on this 1996 release, which was made using a purist two-mike approach unusual for Sony. Thanks to the conductor's control of balances, the high standard of the orchestra's execution, and the clarity of texture that characterizes the recording, one can enjoy every detail of Respighi's opulent scoring and at the same time hear these works, for once, as actual music. The performances, like the sonics, are demonstration class. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

This is the one to get.......2007-02-22

If you only can buy one recording of the Roman Trilogy make it this one. It has best sound quality and the performance is awe-inspiring.

Highly recommended!

Impeccable performance by both Maestro and Orchestra.......2006-08-17

To compare an orchestra with such caliber as Philadelphia (one of the "Mighty Five" of this country) with a lesser known orchestra (yet not any less talented I must say) is to compare apples to oranges. I personally don't see any sense in doing so and I strongly dispute comparing recordings based on the orchestra alone. I have heard sloppy records played by world famous orchestras. It happens. I have also heard phenomonal recordings done by orchestras previously unheard of. While Pittsburgh is most certainly not unheard of, they would still fall into the latter category.
The performance given here by Pittsburgh is top notch, no questions asked, hands down. A fabulous technical ability paired with the wise musical styling of Maazel make this record a steal. The sound quality is stunning, each episode of Respighi's triptych sparkles with its own light, not a cut and paste example. Another fine example of this is Danielle Gatti with the Orchestra of Saint Cecilia.
Maazel doesn't fail to delight with his great readings of the Respighi Roman triptych. And, at least in this recording, Pittsburgh is right up there with the heavy hitters in today's orchestral scene.

Good clean energy.......2006-06-09

Lorin Maazel brings an incredibly energetic approach to the music of Respighi. The previous reviewer, Mr. Kniess does a wonderful job telling you about the pieces of music on this disk, so I only intend to add to what he has said. (However, I would not regard Respighi as an 'impressionist'. That seems to put his music in the same category as Debussy and Ravel, which it is most certainly not.)

The performance of these works are impeccable. All sections of the orchestra are always pristine, both in terms of rhythm and pitch. So much power and energy comes from the orchestra, I continue to be amazed every time I listen to the recording. The brass soloists in the last movement of Roman Festival are incredible. They really go for the biggest tone, and sound great in the process.

This is a great CD to own. A must have for Respighi lovers and brass musicians.

Italian Impressionist.......2006-01-28

Ottorino Respighi is somewhat of an oddity; considered an Italian impressionist, his music is far off from the fuzzy haze of the French, and while he highly regarded Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, his music is not particularly nationalistic, save the ideas and programs of his works. Three very popular symphonic poems represent the pinnacle of his compositional style, all included on this disk: The Pines of Rome, The Fountains of Rome, and Roman Festivals.

Each of the poems have four movements which describe the musical portraits or scenes Respighi wants to convey, usually in a vivid manner. The Pines of Rome is centered around the ancient trees of his native land, the first, the pine trees of Villa Borghese, is a playful opener with tinkling bells and skipping rhythms imitating the playing children. Pine trees near a catacomb is very subdued, but a rhythmical chanting rises to a climax with blazing brass, combining ancient ritual with, then, modern classicism. The nearest Respighi approaches French Impressionism is in the pine trees of Janiculum, with its shimmering strings, arpeggiated piano, and use of harp and celeste. The nature-based clarinet solo cuts through any haze, however, and the use of recorded bird song is unique to Respighi in this case. The final, pine trees of the Appian Way, builds into a theme of fifths, horn and trumpet calls aided by the trombones and tuba, give a militaristic quality and a brash ending gives a glorious close. The orchestrations are very colorful, even including organ on top of a host of other unique instruments. The melodic material is tuneful and interesting, one of Respighi's most approachable poems for orchestra.

The poem which flows the best from start to finish is the Fountains of Rome (no pun intended). Respighi describes four specific fountains in an around Rome and musically depicts them. The opening fountain of Valle Giulia is the most bubbly (pun intended). The lines are long and florid with burbling scales in all parts, with calmly rising melodies. In contrast, the Triton Fountain is firmly announced by horns, screaming strings, and bells. What follows is a bouncy scherzo, often reminiscent of the French Romantic composer Paul Dukas; the movement is fun and bubbly. The Fountain at Trevi, however, seems to recall Richard Strauss, with heavy and powerful trombones in the spotlight. The forcefulness is fortified by the addition of organ, but subsides into the last fountain at Villa Medici. The most impressionistic sounding, the modal melody on English horn recalls Debussy, while the harp glissandi, celeste, string tremolos, and woodwind dottings only reinforce the idea. Again, colorful orchestrations, beautiful melodies, including the haunting modes of the last fountain.

Roman Festivals is by and far the most Italian sounding of the three poems, and chronicles life around a celebration. The very angry and agitated opening Cirenses, sounds nearly schizophrenic, with unrelated fanfares, and a menacing bass drum for the impending storm, as well as a fearful organ. A slow procession of religious folk outside of town changes the mood to the movement entitled Jubilee, but builds in intensity. The third movement, October Festival, has varied melodies and sections, including an Italian love song, and a serenade complete with solo mandolin. The blazing finale, Epiphany, is also schizophrenic in pacing, with constantly changing moods, scenes, and themes. The end result is exultancy as full orchestra resoundingly concludes.

Of digital recordings, this Sony recording is by and far the finest. The Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra under Lorin Maazel is captured in a sonically enriched atmosphere, very much like a concert hall setting. The large proportions are captured well and balanced properly, and the colorful orchestration dazzles the listener. The playing is great, the brass section is particularly exceptional; I have not heard such ensemble, precision, and high quality in a long time. Maazel is faithful to the score, but also makes each portrait diverse from the preceding one, relying on Respighi's imagination. He gets a full and dramatic reading from the score. Highly recommended modern account of three classics. Compare with Maazel's 70's recording with the Cleveland Orchestra on Decca; both great, I prefer this one.

Second to none!.......2004-11-08

Lorin Maazel transports the listener along a musical soujourn that s/he'll not soon forget! The composer, the conductor and the orchestra nail this one in a perfect tenon. This is a rendition that one can listen to over and over. Don't wait to add it to your Classical Music library.

Respighi: Pini di Roma/Feste Romane/Fontane di Roma

Average customer rating:

The Ultimate Roman Trilogy
Roman excellence
Wow.
Truly a Monumental Respighi Recording
Enjoyable Works!

Respighi: Pini di Roma/Feste Romane/Fontane di Roma

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Respighi - Ancient Aires and Dances / L.A. Chamber Orhcestra · Marriner
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances 1 & 3, Three Botticelli Pictures, The Birds
Respighi: Pines of Rome, etc
Respighi: Church Windows, Brazilian Impressions/Simon
Symphonie Fantastique

ASIN: B0000041OT
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

PINI DI ROMA: Pines of Rome: I. I Pini di Villa Borghese
PINI DI ROMA: II. Pini presso una catacomba
PINI DI ROMA: III. I Pini del Gianicolo
PINI DI ROMA: IV. I Pini della Via Appia
Feste romane: Feste Romane: I. Circenses
Feste romane: II. Il Giubileo
Feste romane: III. L'Ottobrata
Feste romane: IV. La Befana
FONTANE DI ROMA: Foutains of Rome: I. La fontana di Valle Giulia all'alba
FONTANE DI ROMA: II. La fontana del Tritone al mattino
FONTANE DI ROMA: III. La fontana di Trevi al meriggio
FONTANE DI ROMA: IV. La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto

Customer Reviews:

The Ultimate Roman Trilogy.......2006-04-20

Well, what can I say? Charles Dutoit's rendition of Respighi's Roman Trilogy ranks among the finest. The orchestral emotions give out a spine-tingling sensation. The sound quality is beyond excellent. Tension is high and tedium is low. I'd have to say congratulations to Decca/London for giving us this fabulous creation.

Pini di Roma: I first heard this in the movie Fantasia 2000, and I just had this feeling that the filmmakers cut out half of its entirety. When I heard this complete version, I was hooked. Its power and precision is strikingly beautiful. From the lively introduction to the gracious finale, this one is hard to hate.

Feste Romane: The most energetic of the three, it misses some familiarity from the other two Roman pieces, but it is still worth a listen. The First movement (Circenses) has a high level of good old apprehension, while the Fourth movement (La Befana) goes way deeper than that. For the second half third movement (L'Ottobrata), it has some of the same lovable atmosphere as from Pini del Gianicolo of Pini di Roma. Not the best of the three, but simply not the worst.

Fontane di Roma: The Italian flair and the massive sanguinity are both present here in this first piece of the Roman Trilogy. It's a beautiful phenomenon that has generated to a catchy musicality today. Precise, vigorous, soft, and exquisite at the same time.

This should be an absolute steal for those who are beginning to feel the Italian Impressionism through Ottorino Respighi. A+

Roman excellence.......2005-06-26

After long and arduous searching and listening, I have come to the conclusion that this is quite possibly the best available recording of the Roman triptych by Ottorino Respighi.

This comes not as a revelation but as a final assertion based on what I've heard and what I look for in fine recordings: this includes examining 'reference' (if there be fairness in naming such things) recordings the likes of Muti/Philadelphia, Bernstein/NYPhil, Reiner/Chicago, Ozawa/Boston, and others of the sort. I think all of them have exceptional qualities but something missing from them. For some reason, this particular recording of Dutoit with a very disciplined and rather 'on-fire' Montreal Symphony bests them all.

Whether it be in just intonation or in clarity from better digital recording to attention paid to every little nuance, OSM and Dutoit give us the most riveting account. The power is really there at the end of Pines of the Appian Way and one can feel the majesty and glory in the Fountains of Rome (especially in Fountain at Trevi at Mid-day... the low brass especially bass trombone are alive and kickin'). The sweet song of the nightingale is gorgeously present and dubbed in so well, you'd almost swear that the bird is in the studio with the orchestra.

I recommend and encourage everyone who wants to hear a supreme recording of the Roman cycle to snatch this recording up. It is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

Wow........2003-06-06

I never thought I'd hear a brass sound equal to that of the Chicago Symphony, but Charles Dutoit and the OSM do it right here. The OSM plays the Pines of Rome like I've never heard it before. As fantastic as the entire performance is, the final Pines of the Appian Way seems to dwarf the first three movements. One can visualize the slow, steady march of the Roman legions, coming closer, closer, and closer still. The OSM possesses and demonstrates the superb control required to give a convincing performance of this piece. They play the written "F"'s and still retain the purity and clarity of their sound. The last two or so minutes of it still send chills up my spine. I recommend this album highly to anybody and everybody.

Truly a Monumental Respighi Recording.......2003-01-26

As others have expounded, this is exquisite performance and recording. Dutoit and the Orchestra Symphony of Montreal deliver Pines of Rome with sensitive, passionate dynamics which are incredibly captured by this recording.

The instrument groups are crystal clear and pristine, yet the subtle movements deliver concert hall chills while listening.

This is of the top notch.

Enjoyable Works!.......2003-01-15

Not much more to say that others haven't said already.
These are very fine works, excellent sound and music.

Respighi: Roman Festivals; Fountains of Rome; Pines of Rome

Average customer rating:

fountains sublime

Respighi: Roman Festivals; Fountains of Rome; Pines of Rome

Manufacturer: Chesky Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003GCX
Release Date: 1994-06-23

Tracks:

Roman Festivals
Fountains of Rome
Pines of Rome

Customer Reviews:

fountains sublime.......2002-05-04

What confounds me is that this recording hardly ever gets a mention in the popular reviews. Quite simply this is the most beautiful and inspired performance and recording of "The Fountains of Rome" that I have heard (and I've heard many). Forget Karajan's (and the rest for that matter) if this piece of wonderful music means anything to you - the New Philharmonia's performance of this demanding piece under Freccia is so engaging and exhilirating, running the gamut from the delicate subtlety of the "Valle Giulia at Dawn" to the bombastic majesty of "Trevi at Midday" that comparisons are very revealing. The sound quality is first rate thanks to the brilliant original engineering rendering a remarkable soundstage and Chesky's fine transfer.
If I hadn't stumbled across this recording on an LP (which sounds gorgeous!) as part of an RCA boxed set from the sixties which was found in an op-shop recently, then sadly I'd still be listening to versions that do not do the music justice.
A great budget re-issue on the Eloquence label of a Decca LSO recording under Kertesz from 1969 is enjoyable.
"The Pines" are also wonderful and almost all of the above applies.
"The Festivals" are well done but too ponderous and slow for my liking. For the definitive recording of this listen to Mazel conducting the Cleveland Orchestra (if you're game enough to!).
The Fountains alone are worth the price of this disc - an exceptional achievement.

Average customer rating:

Unbeatable Roman Trilogy
Terrific recording
Quality regardless of price

Respighi: Symphonic Poems

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Ottorino Respighi: Church Windows/Brazilian Impressions/Roman Festivals
Respighi: The Birds; 3 Botticelli Pictures; Il Tramonto
Stravinsky: Pulcinella; The Fairy's Kiss
Belcea Quartet ~ Debussy · Dutilleux · Ravel
Franck: Symphonic Variations; D'Indy: Symphony on a French Mountain Air

ASIN: B0000013TI
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

Roman Festivals: Circus Games
Roman Festivals: The Jubilee
Roman Festivals: Harvest Festivals In October
Roman Festivals: Epiphany
Fountains Of Rome: The Fountain Of Valle Giulia At Dawn
Fountains Of Rome: The Triton Fountain In The Morning
Fountains Of Rome: The Trevi Fountain In Mid-Day
Fountains Of Rome: The Villa Medici Fountain At Sunset
Pines Of Rome: The Pines Of Villa Borghese
Pines Of Rome: Pines Near A Catacomb
Pines Of Rome: The Pines Of The Janiculum
Pines Of Rome: The Pines Of The Appian Way

Customer Reviews:

Unbeatable Roman Trilogy .......2007-02-12

This is my second recording of The Roman Trilogy by my favourite composer Ottorino Respighi. It is even preferable to my last one with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The sound quality is superior with a slight reverberation to the acoustic, which goes well with such atmospheric music. The brass playing is also terrific on this recording. Every time I listen to these masterpieces of orchestral colour something new is revealed, so I never tire of them. Rightly so, Gramophone magazine gave this recording a top recommendation when it was first released.

Terrific recording.......2003-10-11

I think, this is one of the best "Rome Trilogy" recordings...

Especially, The Festivals of Rome is excellent. This symphonic poem is the most joyful and most difficult link (for orchestras and conductors) of trilogy. But Enrique Batiz and His Royal PO are amazing, especially last movement of "Fetivals" (Epiphany)...

Pines of Rome is also very good. I was impressed especially 3rd movement. This movement tells about The Pines of Janiculum at night, and landscape is very impressive and a little scaring. And then music continues without a brake to 4th movement. This music tells about Pines of Appian Way. Julius Caesar and his Roman Army is passing on this way, because they were won a battle...

Highly recommended for all Respighi fans...

Quality regardless of price.......2000-10-16

Who says budget labels only hire (relatively) unknown orchestras? Here, Enrique Bátiz teams up with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to produce one of the most preferred recordings of Respighi's Roman Trilogy in the catalogue right now. These three symphonic poems have long been orchestral favorites; the music not only requires great orchestral finesse but also creative interpretations. Bátiz and the RPO are all that and more. In this recording, the RPO exudes raw power resembling that of the Chicago Symphony under Reiner and Solti. At the same time, the British orchestra also displays great virtuosity not unlike George Szell's Cleveland Orchestra. On top of all the orchestral prowess, Bátiz offers a fun and insightful view to the music. Finally, for you audiophiles out there, I should add that the sound engineering is first rate. This recording would be among the top recommendations at any price. At Naxos price, however, it IS the top recommendation.

Respighi: The Fountains Of Rome/The Pines Of Rome/Feste Romane

Average customer rating:

Early stereo recordings revisited

Respighi: The Fountains Of Rome/The Pines Of Rome/Feste Romane

Manufacturer: Everest Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Rachmaninov/Stravinsky
Villa Lobos: The Little Train of the Caipira; Antill: Corroboree; Ginastera: Estancia; Panambi
Vaughan Williams/Arnold: Symphony No. 9/Symphony No. 3
Strauss: Don Juan; Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche
Sergei Prokofiev: Chout/Lieutenant Kije Suite

ASIN: B0000023GQ
Release Date: 1995-02-28

Tracks:

The Fountains Of Rome: The Fountain Of Valle Giulia At Dawn
The Fountains Of Rome: The Triton Fountain
The Fountains Of Rome: The Fountain Of Trevi At Midday
The Fountains Of Rome: The Fountain Of The Villa Medici At Sunset
The Pines Of Rome: The Pines Of The Villa Borghese
The Pines Near A Catacomb
The Pines Of Rome: The Pines Of The Janiculum
The Pines Of Rome: The Pines Of The Appian Way
Feste romane: Circuses
Feste romane: The Jubilee
Feste romane: The October Festival
Feste romane: The Epiphany

Customer Reviews:

Early stereo recordings revisited.......2003-03-25

The Goosens version of Feste Romane was an early release on Everest Records (#3004) using 35mm wide, sprocketed recording tape putatively designed to capture the huge dynamic range of the tone poem. The transfer to CD isn't first class, but it does satisfactorily capture the energy of the performance. Like a recording of Eugene Ormandy's, this one omits the pipe organ called for in the score. This is (ironically) made up for in spades in Malcolm Sargent's rendering of the other two tone poems, Pines & Fountains, where the organ is arguably more prominent than on any other recording of these works. On the opening movement of Feste Romane (Circenses), Goosens emphasizes pain in the discords (substituting p-ff crescendos for sforzando attacks), his tempi are recklessly fast, and the percussionists were unbridled (esp. the gong player). Percussion takes center stage in the final movement (La Befana), where the xylophone and rattle drive the rhythms forward (virtually the opposite approach to Zubin Mehta's for this sequence). Unrestrained, unrefined, pounding Respighi for those who can appreciate Roman Festivals "with the gloves taken off." Goosens handles the more delicate sections well, bringing out contrasts and emotional depth. Sargent's reading of Pines and Fountains is, for the most part, valuable for revealing what Respighi had written for the pipe organ for these works - that instrument fairly thunders at the climax of Pines. The limitations of early stereophonic recording haven't been transcended in the remastering process, however -- some tinniness and compressed stereo image obtains.

Respighi: Pini di Roma; Fontane di Roma; Feste Romane

Average customer rating:

Not the best, but quite fine (to me)
Modern 'Classical'
Poor Pines, Beautiful Fountains and Festivals
Different views from different publications
A putative tie-breaker: Muti over Dutoit

Respighi: Pini di Roma; Fontane di Roma; Feste Romane

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RNX
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

I: I Pini Di Villa Borghese
II: I Pini Presso Una Catacomba
III: I Pini Del Gianicolo
IV: I Pini Della Via Appia
I: La Fontana Di Valle Giulia All'Alba
II: La Fontana Del Tritone Al Mattino
III: La Fontana Di Trevi Al Meriggio
IV: La Fontana Di Villa Medici Al Tramonto
I: Circenses
II: Il Giubileo
III: L'Ottobrata
IV: La Befana

Amazon.com

This is deluxe Respighi. These tone poems were specialties of Eugene Ormandy, who recorded them with the Philadelphia Orchestra at least twice in stereo, once for Sony and again for RCA. Neither of those versions is really competitive sonically, so it's great to hear this superlative orchestra play the music under a knowing conductor in fully modern (if not quite perfect) sound. Ricardo Muti is no mere Ormandy clone, however. To the orchestra's natural opulence, he adds an extra dash of discipline and a firm grip on the rhythmic tiller. The result is both lushly Romantic and exciting--really these three tone poems have never been better conducted. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Not the best, but quite fine (to me).......2007-01-13

I have this on LP, but only have two of them on CD. Fountains is with Shcheherezade, and Pines is with the Romeo & Juliet suites. I don't have Festivals on CD. I do remember the LP being somewhat problematic in terms of sound, and hoped that CD would clear that up. Fountains seems to have worked, but Pines still seems a bit congested. Muti's Philly does play wonderfully, regardless.

Reiner is stil splendid, and I don't mind the sound. Ozawa is a nice way to get all 3, but Maazel/Cleveland (no Fountains) really works the best. Most people rave about his Festivals, but I also love his Pines, especially the Appian Way. His Pittsburgh version (all 3) is also great. Ormandy is OK on a budget, but DeWaart/SanFran, Lane/Atlanta, Com misiona/Baltimore are not. They don't contain all 3, and there are pacing, ensemble, intonation issues. Dutoit just sounds like a run-through. I got a number of Du-what's recordings in the 80's, and they seem so overrated. Their longevity is severely lacking.
I'd say, go ahead with Muti, but don't be surprised if you find that ultimately, you prefer someone else. Of course, he could do it just the way you want it, and you can certainly do worse!

Modern 'Classical'.......2007-01-13

Listening to Ottorino Resphigi's trilogy 'Pini di Roma', 'Fontane di Roma', and 'Feste Romane' was quite a surprise to me, as I 'unconsciously filed Resphigi away in my musically dillantish mind as a much earlier, possibly even Renaissance composer! One listen to the opening phrases had me dashing to check the composer's dates, when I heard things which sounded remarkably like very modern composers, especially Richard Strauss and even Aron Copeland. I was embarrased to realize how obviously similar Resphigi's 'tone poem' genre was similar to Strauss, and how similar he was, therefore, to so much modern film music. While Resphigi is much more sophisticated than any movie score, I can almost hear precursors to, for example, Howard Shore's scores for 'The Lord of the Rings' here and there. I can definitely hear similarities to Copeland's 'Nantucket Sleighride'! This is not 'great' music, in the same category as 'The Rites of Spring' or Berg's violin concerto or Bartok's third piano concerto, but it is good and it is enjoyable. I'm glad I got around to actually listening to it!

Poor Pines, Beautiful Fountains and Festivals.......2006-09-04

I can't believe I have the same recording! The Fountains and Festivals are wonderful. They are the reasons to buy this disc. Dissatisfaction with the sound quality is, no doubt, because the Philadelphia Orchestra had no suitable venue for recording. The notes say that this was recorded at Memorial Hall. Philadelphians know that this so-called hall is a gymnasium. That's the best we could do for one of the world's greatest artistic treasures. But these two performances are fantastic.

But, to me, Pines is one of the great landmarks of music in this era. And this rendition of Pines is just awful. There is not one second of music in the entire first movement. Yes, it is impressive that the orchestra could stay, more-or-less, together at that tempo. But the musicians sound like they are keeping up with the conductor, not playing together. All of the movements lack musical nuance. This recording is vulgar and insensitive. While I blame this on the conductor, he certainly wasn't responsible for the clams heard in later movements. I am far more interested in an artistic performance than I am in technology. So I favor Reiner's Pines over all others. It is inspiring. Who cares if it is early stereo?

A note about the trombone section featured in a previous review: The trombone section is, in fact, outstanding throughout this disc. In Philadelphia, we were so lucky to have those years with Joe Alessi and Charley Vernon along with Glenn Dodson and Tyrone Breuninger (a fine associate principal for many years). However, Joe Alessi was long gone by the time this recording was made in 1985. If the recording was made during the '84-'85 season, the second trombone part was played by David Read. If it was made during the '85-'86 season, the second part was played by Edward Zadrozny. With Alessi's big shoes to fill, both of these musicians were phenomenal during their one-year stints in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of recordings made by the two years that Dodson, Breuninger, Alessi, and Vernon were together. The only one that comes to mind is Sheherezade with Muti conducting. For trombone enthusiasts, that recording is particularly interesting because it features the future NY Philharmonic principal playing the second trombone solo.

Different views from different publications.......2005-11-18

Riccardo Muti's recording of Respighi's "Roman Trilogy" with the Phildelphia Orchestra has had different views from different publications over the years. A 1986 review in STEREO REVIEW referred to Muti's recording as "Spectacular", but a 1996 AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE review called it "over-rated, and a recording with no real bass" (referring to the engineering). I tend to view it in a more favorable light than the ARG reviewers; Muti conducts with tremendous flair, and if he glosses over some high points in the excitement of the moment, I consider this a great recording, worthy to stir the senses for the moment, which Respighi, like Richard Strauss in his tone poems, should do.

I can't give you a blow by blow description of how Muti does each movement within each work, but he has a great building climax in IV of "Pines of Rome." "Fountains" is more reflective, while "Festivals" is truly savage, and really barbaric in I, depicting the torture and slaughter of Christians at the hands of the gladiators in the Colusseum.

In short, I give Muti's Respighi 5 stars for performance, 4 stars for sound:the bass is a bit diffuse, as ARG's reviewers pointed out.

Alternatives? Ormandy/Philadelphia (Sony) for all 3; Ozawa/Boston (DG) for "Festivals" (maybe hard to find now); Gatti/Santa Cecilia (EMI) for all 3, in digital sound which is state of the art.

A putative tie-breaker: Muti over Dutoit.......2003-03-25

Having heard both Muti's and Dutoit's Respighi excursions, Muti gets the nod as the best Roman trilogy on CD. The first reviewer lamented lost impressionistic detail in the Muti that Reiner, and later Dutoit, allegedly bring out. This is only partially true -- sometimes the contrast is not between detail and no-detail, but rather on emphasis. De gustibus non disputandum - there's no disputing a matter of taste. If there's a reference recording to reflect Respighi's intent, it would have to be that of his good friend, Toscanini. And Toscanini was never happy with the inability of recording engineers to handle Respighi's intent (neither with the same Philadelphia orchestra Muti conducts here, nor with the NBC Symphony). It's fair game to extrapolate from this. Rhythm does dominate Muti's interpretation; the "acceleration" alluded to by another reviewer sometimes occurring in surprisingly effective places (the beginning of the final saltarello of Feste Romane, for example). It's hard to tell how truly "authentic" either Muti or Dutoit is; e.g., it's not clear that they're using actual buccine in Pines or Festivals (Argeo Quadri apparently did). Arguably better detail is achieved by Ozawa or Tilson Thomas, but one must rule on the overall interpretation as opposed to indulging in tunnel vision. (One reviewer commends Muti's slower tempo on the finale of Pines, but it's noteworthy that Toscanini's tempo was significantly faster, presumably reflecting Respighi's preference.)

Average customer rating:

Panorama: Ottorino Respighi

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005IB60
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Tracks:

The Pines Of Rome: I Pini Di Villa Borghese
The Pines Of Rome: Pini Presso Una Catacomba
The Pines Of Rome: I Pini Del Gianicolo
The Pines Of Rome: I Pini Della Via Appia
The Fountains Of Rome: La Fontana Di Valle Giulia All'alba
The Fountains Of Rome: La Fontana Del Tritone Al Mattino
The Fountains Of Rome: La Fontana Di Trevi Al Meriggio
The Fountains Of Rome: La Fontana Di Villa Medici Al Tramonto
Roman Festivals: Circenses
Roman Festivals: Il Giubileo
Roman Festivals: L'ottobrata
Roman Festivals: La Befana

Tracks:

Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Anon.: Italiana (Fine Sec. XVI)
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Jean-Baptiste Besard: Arie Di Corte (Sec. XVI): 'C'est Malheur Que De Vous Aymer'
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Jean-Baptiste Besard: Arie Di Corte (Sec. XVI): 'Adieu Bergere Pour Iamais'
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Jean-Baptiste Besard: Arie Di Corte (Sec. XVI): 'Beaux Yeux Qui Me Voyes Clairement'
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Jean-Baptiste Besard: Arie Di Corte (Sec. XVI): 'La Voila La Nacelle D'amor Ou Ma Maitresse Arrive'
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Jean-Baptiste Besard: Arie Di Corte (Sec. XVI): 'Quelle Divinite S'imprime Dans Mon Ame'
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Jean-Baptiste Besard: Arie Di Corte (Sec. XVI): 'Si C'est Pour Mon Pucellage Que Vous Me Faites L'Amour'
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Jean-Baptiste Besard: Arie Di Corte (Sec. XVI): 'Andante Cantabile'
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Anon.: Siciliana (Fine Sec. XVI)
Ancient Airs And Dances: Suite III: Lodovico Roncalli: Passacaglia (1692)
Impressioni Brasiliane: Notte Tropicale
Impressioni Brasiliane: Butantan
Impressioni Brasiliane: Canzona E Danza
The Birds: Preludio (Da Bernardo Pasquini)
The Birds: La Colomba (Da Jacques Gallot)
The Birds: La Gallina (Da Jean-Philippe Rameau)
The Birds: L'usignuolo (Anon., Sec. XVII)
The Birds: Il Cucu (Da Bernardo Pasquini)
Sunset - Irmgard Seefried

Respighi: Pini Di Roma / Fontane Di Roma / Feste Romane (Pines of Rome / Fountains of Rome / Roman Festivals)

Average customer rating:

As good as it gets.

Respighi: Pini Di Roma / Fontane Di Roma / Feste Romane (Pines of Rome / Fountains of Rome / Roman Festivals)

Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RW0
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

Pini di Roma: I. I pini di VIlla Borghese
Pini di Roma: II. I pini presso una catacomba
Pini di Roma: III. I pini del Gianicolo
Pini di Roma: IV. I pini della Via Appia
Fontane di Roma: I. La fontana di Valle Giulia all'alba
Fontane di Roma: II. La fontana del Tritione al mattino
Fontane di Roma: III. La fontana di Trevi al meriggio
Fontane di Roma: IV. La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto
Feste romane: I. Circenses
Feste romane: II. Giubleo
Feste romane: III. L'Ottobrata
Feste romane: IV. La Befana

Customer Reviews:

As good as it gets........2005-11-17

Considering all the versions of these tone poems and the great orchestras and conductors from great cities Who have recorded them, who could've thought an orchestra from Oslo, Norway could upstage just about every performance on CD. Music is truly universal. A brilliant, colorful, vivid and sumptuous performance and acoustic. Spectacular sound!! Janson an the orchestra have full measure of these pieces. the wind and brass are marvelous. Strong Mediterranean atmosphere and a bittersweet nostalgiac feeling pervades. This is one of the 2 best interpretations of the COMPLETE Roman Trilogy I have ever heard. The other being Dutoit and The Montreal Symphonique. There is such detail that in some parts it all sounds new to me. This one is a BIG-TIME KEEPER.

Respighi: Pines of Rome/Fountains of Rome/Roman Festivals

Average customer rating:

Toscanini plays Respighi's Roman Cycle
The Conductor for Whom the Roman Festivals Was Written!

Respighi: Pines of Rome/Fountains of Rome/Roman Festivals

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003EWU
Release Date: 1990-05-25

Tracks:

Pines Of Rome: I. The Pines Of The Villa Borghese
Pines Of Rome: II. Pines Near A Catacomb
Pines Of Rome: III. The Pines Of The Janiculum
Pines Of Rome: IV. The Pines Of The Appian Way
Fountains Of Rome: I. The Fountain Of Valle Giulia At Dawn
Fountains Of Rome: II. The Triton Fountain At Morning
Fountains Of Rome: III. The Fountain Of Trevi At Midday
Fountains Of Rome: IV. The Villa Medici Fountain At Sunset
Roman Festivals: I. Circuses
Roman Festivals: II. The Jubilee
Roman Festivals: III. The October Festival
Roman Festivals: IV. Epiphany

Customer Reviews:

Toscanini plays Respighi's Roman Cycle.......2004-01-06

Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) not only conducted the 1929 world premiere of Ottorino Respighi's "Roman Festivals" (also known as "Feste Romana"), he was a close friend of the frail composer, who struggled with heart problems until his death in 1936. Indeed, when Toscanini was threatened by Mussolini's "Brown Shirts" in 1931, it was Respighi who played a key role in preventing the Fascists from further harming the Maestro, after some of them had roughed up the conductor. (That came after Toscanini's repeated refusals to play any of the Fascist songs in his Italian concerts.)

"Roman Festivals" was the last of the three symphonic poems that make up Respighi's Roman Cycle. It was also the longest and most spectacular of the three colorfully-orchestrated works. Toscanini had already recorded it in the early 1940's with the Philadelphia Orchestra in sessions which were nearly sabotaged by problems in the mastering process. (Despite some occasional distortions, the digitally remastered Philadelphia Orchestra recordings of 1941-42 are worth hearing.)

Toscanini's 1949 recording with the NBC Symphony was made in Carnegie Hall and, typically, he insisted that the engineers get every bit of the spectacular crescendos that are so typical of Respighi's music. When told that the tape equipment could only handle so much volume, Toscanini said he didn't care if they broke it. Nevertheless, RCA Victor did a remarkable job in recording a powerful performance of this often dramatic music. It includes a vivid depiction of early, persecuted Christians facing the lions in the Coliseum, complete with a terrible roaring and the eventual bloody massacre of the martyrs. Toscanini was particularly insistent in faithful recreating Respighi's tone painting. He also succeeded admirably in the comic epics during the final "Epiphany" section in which the music becomes almost ludicrous, bordering on the burlesque, and reminded this writer of a Fellini comedy.

Earlier, Respighi included one of the most amazing orchestral crescendos ever composed in "Pines of Rome." In Toscanini's recording, we are overwhelmed with the gradual increase in volume as the composer depicts a procession of Roman soldiers through the pine forest on the Appian Way. In an earlier performance of this music, big bandleader Tommy Dorsey marveled at how Toscanini was able to gradually build the volume to the spectacular end.

"Pines" also includes a very wonderful section in which we hear a nightingale singing in a pine tree. Respighi was quite innovative here because he instructed that a grammophone recording of a nightingale be played at the appropriate time. This definitely adds to the magical moments. Incidentally, Toscanini included "Pines of Rome" in his first concert with the New York Philharmonic, also in Carnegie Hall, in 1926. In January 1945, when Toscanini appeared as a guest conductor with the Philharmonic, he again included "Pines" in a concert that included all of the works from his 1926 performance. Fortunately, the 1945 concert was recorded.

The Roman Cycle had begun with "Fountains of Rome," a really diverse and colorful work. Much of the music is relatively quiet, serene, and even contemplative, but Respighi builds to another crescendo as he depicts the famous Trevi fountain, giving the impression of almost overwhelming cascades of water. Toscanini's performance is more than equal to the music.

Some may complain that these recordings, spanning the years 1949 to 1953, are not up to present day standards. For their time, however, they were actually demonstrations of "high fidelity" and the performances remain the most faithful to Respighi's intentions. Digital remastering has definitely added to the impact of these milestone recordings.

The Conductor for Whom the Roman Festivals Was Written!.......1998-10-10

Toscanini gave the world premiere of the "Roman Festivals" tone poem in New York with the Philharmonic-Symphony in 1929. At the time it must have been considered harsh stuff by the conservative concert-going audiences (who were not as yet very comfortable with the jazz experiments of Gershwin or the almost "avant garde" ballets by Stravinsky.) While the critics have always considered the three tone poems of Respighi's Roman Trilogy to be second-rate potboilers, audiences and record buyers keep coming back for more, and the world's finest conductors, from Reiner to Karajan, are happy to satiate our ears with the ripe orchestration, colorful instrumental treatments, and lyrical Italianate melodies of these evergreen works.

The Toscanini recordings have never sounded as fine as they do on this pristine, authentic mono CD transfer. Earlier Red Seal LP recordings had variable quality, and the sixties budget disks from RCA Victrola were thin and wiry. There was a falsified fake stereo issue from RCA midway during the stereo LP era, but it could not hold a candle to the solidity, transient response, and clarity of these disks.

Warning: if you have a hi-fi system with very "bright" sounding speakers, you may find this CD a bit shrill. It can be tamed with your treble control or equalizer if necessary. Otherwise, it is almost perfect in sound quality, nearly the equal of the best technology in use at any record company in the early fifties in the "Pines" and "Fountains"; only the 1949 early magnetic tape recording of the "Feste Romane" is a bit compressed sounding at the loudest passages (though it is still very robust and powerful.) "Break the equipment!" the Maestro is said to have shouted at his timorous engineers who recoiled at the magnitude of sound produced by the NBC musicians in full cry. Well, nothing broke and the recordings became classics.

Incidentally, earlier the "Roman Festivals" performance by Toscanini with the great Philadelphia Orchestra, also on the RCA / BMG Series on 60311-2 RG, is severely flawed by noise and distortion, which are totally absent in the relatively smooth and modern-sounding taping of 1949 in this present CD.

Interpretatively, if you like Ormandy or Karajan in the Pines / Fountains, you may find Toscanini a bit brusque. But if you enjoy the Reiner performance with the Chicago Symphony (a Victor Living Stereo classic) you may likely find Toscanini a bit more yielding in lyrical moments. However, nobody has EVER produced a more intense and dramatic interpretation of "Feste Romane"!

Respighi: Feste Romane; Fontane di Roma; Pini di Roma
Average customer rating:
Respighi: Feste Romane; Fontane di Roma; Pini di Roma

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Respighi | Respighi, Ottorino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Le Sacre du Printemps [Hybrid SACD]

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3; Poulenc: Organ Concerto; Barber: Toccata Festiva

Respighi: The Birds; 3 Botticelli Pictures; Il Tramonto

Beethoven Symphonies 4 & 5

Songs from the Labyrinth (Music by John Dowland)

ASIN: B0002DD67O
Release Date: 2004-07-13