Respighi: La Primavera, La Pentola Magica / Adriano, Slovak Radio
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Respighi: La Primavera, La Pentola Magica / Adriano, Slovak Radio

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Details

Composer
RESPIGHI, OTTORINO
Artist
Haan, Dvorsky, Valaskova, Adriano, Slovak R
Format
CD
Discs
1
Label
Naxos
Released
Dec 16, 2008
Catalog #
8570741
UPC
747313074174

About



RESPIGHI La primavera (orch. Adriano). 1 4 lirichi su poesie popolari armene. 2 La pentola magica 3 • Adriano, cond; Richard Haan ( Praying One ); 1 Miroslav Dvorský ( Young Man ); 1 Jana Valásková ( Sirvard ); 1 Vladimír Kubov?ik ( Old Man ); 1 Denisa Šlepkovská (mez); 2 Jakub Francisci (trb); 3 Slovak PCh; 1 Slovak RSO • NAXOS 8.570741 (79:20)


These may be unfamiliar works, but there will be no mistaking the composer of the opening of La primavera —it could fit seamlessly into The Fountains of Rome —nor the echoes of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Le coq d’or in its fifth movement. The Russian’s influence is obvious throughout this work, with its bold colors and brash exuberance united by Respighi, with surprising success, to Gregorian ecclesiastical modes. A setting of Italian verse by flamboyant 20th-century Armenian poet Gostan Zarian, the texts are, judging from the synopsis provided, uncomfortably naive. However, those of us with no Italian need not be concerned, since no text or translation is provided. This recording—a re-release of a 1994 marco polo CD from a six-disc series of neglected Respighi—features Slovakian artists relatively unknown in the U.S. The one familiar name is Dvorský. This is not, however, the more famous Peter, but rather Miroslav, one of four Dvorský brothers who sing opera. All of the soloists are skillful, though one could occasionally wish for more abandon. Dvorský’s Young Man is pleasingly ardent, with nice thrust on the top. Baritone Richard Haan’s tendency to wobble detracts only a bit from his noble Praying One, Bass Vladimir Kubov?ik is a sonorous Old Man, and soprano Jana Valásková creates the beautiful young Sirvard charmingly, if with a bit more maturity and edge to her tone than ideal.


Continuing the Armenian theme, Quattro lirichi —from the same marco polo release—is a setting of poems by Zorian and 12th-century theologian and saint, Nerses Shenorhali. Originally written for Respighi’s wife Elsa, it, like La primavera , achieves an archaic pastoral quality through use of church modes. Gregorian chant was Elsa’s academic specialty and she was instrumental in introducing the modes to Respighi’s compositional palette. Mezzo Denisa Šlepkovská has a luxuriant voice, but her performance of the songs, fine though it is, might have been enhanced by a bit more subtlety and shading. Adriano orchestrated Respighi’s piano accompaniment for a chamber orchestra approximation of an Armenian deste ensemble. Elsa Respighi approved, and it certainly works. La pentola magica , a 1991 marco polo release, is a ballet pastiche of works by lesser-known 19th-century Russian composers, with original material in the same style and an ethereal setting of an Armenian folk theme for boy soprano. Only the most hardened of detractors of Respighi’s “new old music” could fail to be won over by this beguiling work. As in its successor, La boutique fantasque , Respighi succeeds in retaining the character of the originals while unifying them in a clever and cohesive new work.


I hope that this Naxos re-release, the second from the series, signals the eventual release of the ballet and cantata discs, currently only available as arkivmusic.com CD-R reissues, alas without Adriano’s informative liner notes. Adriano, the Swiss conductor and Respighi expert who led all of the original series, invests these works with energy and beauty. The Bratislava-based ensemble performs well, though the winds are less distinguished than the strings. The choir is excellent. The sound on this release is slightly brighter and clearer than the marco polo issue, though neither issue has a solid bottom. Gianandrea Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic have recorded an excellent La pentola magica for Chandos (10081) coupled with La boutique fantasque . While better played than the Naxos, it remains a second choice for me, as Adriano and his orchestra realize more of the dreamy charm of the work. Especially at Naxos’s prices, admirers of Respighi’s more famous scores should not hesitate.


FANFARE: Ronald E. Grames

Tracklist 21 tracks

  1. 1 Invocazione 04:22
    Track
    1
    Title
    Invocazione
    Duration
    04:22
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Richard Haan
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  2. 2 Le voci delle brezze, delle acque e dei fiori 07:50
    Track
    2
    Title
    Le voci delle brezze, delle acque e dei fiori
    Duration
    07:50
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Richard Haan
    Ensemble
    Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  3. 3 I desideri del giovane 08:41
    Track
    3
    Title
    I desideri del giovane
    Duration
    08:41
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Miroslav Dvorský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  4. 4 Le rimembranze del vecchio 03:23
    Track
    4
    Title
    Le rimembranze del vecchio
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Miroslav Dvorský, Vladimir Kubovčík
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  5. 5 Fanciulle estasiate - Fantasticheria di Sirvard 08:35
    Track
    5
    Title
    Fanciulle estasiate - Fantasticheria di Sirvard
    Duration
    08:35
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Jana Valaskova, Henrietta Lednarova, Beata Geriova
    Ensemble
    Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  6. 6 L'incontro del giovine con Sirvard 08:32
    Track
    6
    Title
    L'incontro del giovine con Sirvard
    Duration
    08:32
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Richard Haan, Miroslav Dvorský, Jana Valaskova
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  7. 7 Inno di Primavera 03:23
    Track
    7
    Title
    Inno di Primavera
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Richard Haan
    Ensemble
    Slovak Philharmonic Chorus, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  8. 8 No, non e morto il figlio tuo 01:55
    Track
    8
    Title
    No, non e morto il figlio tuo
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Denisa Šlepkovská, Jaroslav Harvan, Michal Sintal, Gabriel Koncer, Ivan Viskup, Ivan Paulicka, Frantisek Kovacs, Katarina Vavrekova
    Conductor
    Adriano
  9. 9 La mamma e come il pane caldo 01:07
    Track
    9
    Title
    La mamma e come il pane caldo
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Denisa Šlepkovská, Jaroslav Harvan, Michal Sintal, Gabriel Koncer, Ivan Viskup, Ivan Paulicka, Frantisek Kovacs, Katarina Vavrekova
    Conductor
    Adriano
  10. 10 Io sono la Madre 02:32
    Track
    10
    Title
    Io sono la Madre
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Denisa Šlepkovská, Jaroslav Harvan, Michal Sintal, Gabriel Koncer, Ivan Viskup, Ivan Paulicka, Frantisek Kovacs, Katarina Vavrekova
    Conductor
    Adriano
  11. 11 Mattino di luce 03:37
    Track
    11
    Title
    Mattino di luce
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Denisa Šlepkovská, Jaroslav Harvan, Michal Sintal, Gabriel Koncer, Ivan Viskup, Ivan Paulicka, Frantisek Kovacs, Katarina Vavrekova
    Conductor
    Adriano
  12. 12 Preludio 01:42
    Track
    12
    Title
    Preludio
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  13. 13 Canzone armena - Danza 02:38
    Track
    13
    Title
    Canzone armena - Danza
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Performer
    Jakub Francisci
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  14. 14 Entrata dello Tzar coi fidanzati 02:42
    Track
    14
    Title
    Entrata dello Tzar coi fidanzati
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  15. 15 Scena dello Tzarewich 02:25
    Track
    15
    Title
    Scena dello Tzarewich
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  16. 16 Danza degli arcieri tartari 02:33
    Track
    16
    Title
    Danza degli arcieri tartari
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  17. 17 Introduzione e danza Horowod 02:38
    Track
    17
    Title
    Introduzione e danza Horowod
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  18. 18 Danza cosacca 02:40
    Track
    18
    Title
    Danza cosacca
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  19. 19 Danza della seduzione 02:10
    Track
    19
    Title
    Danza della seduzione
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  20. 20 Scena dei baci e arrivo dello Tzar 02:14
    Track
    20
    Title
    Scena dei baci e arrivo dello Tzar
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano
  21. 21 Finale 03:41
    Track
    21
    Title
    Finale
    Duration
    03:41
    Composer
    Ottorino Respighi
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Adriano