The Italian composer Ottorino Respighi studied music in his native Bologna and later, briefly, with Rimsky-Korsakov in St Petersburg. A viola player and pianist as well as a composer, he settled in Rome in 1913, earning a reputation also for his interest in early music and for his work as a teacher.
Respighi’s La Boutique fantasque, based on Rossini, is well known to ballet audiences. Other orchestral arrangements include Antiche danze ed arie per liuto (‘Ancient Dances and Airs for Lute’) and Gli uccelli (‘The Birds’), based on compositions by Rameau, Pasquini and others.
More information:
Respighi Foundation
Concerto in modo misolidio, per pianoforte e orchestra (1925)
Fountains of Rome (Fontane di Roma) (1916)
Pines of Rome (Pini di Roma) (1924)
Roman Festivals (Feste Romane) (1928)
War Dance from Belkis, Queen of Sheba
Ottorino Respighi
Roman Trilogy:
Pines of Rome,
Fountains of Rome,
Festivals of Rome
Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI
Robert Trevino
ODE 1425-2
Released 09/2023
Earquake
The Loudest Classical Music of All Time
Various composers
Re-issue, originally released in 1997
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Leif Segerstam
ODE 1210-2
Released 02/2017