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Donald Macleod examines Respighi’s deep connection with his home city of Bologna.

This week, we’re invited to explore the richly evocative musical landscape of Ottorino Respighi. The colourful inventiveness of his most popular music was often inspired by images, places or stories, like his trio of ‘Tone Poems’: Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome, and Roman Festivals. These works and others were frequently championed by celebrated conductor, Arturo Toscanini, and Respighi rose to become one of the leading Italian composers of the 20th century. He remains hugely popular with orchestras and audiences today. Respighi’s trademark orchestral brilliance betrays the influence of his Russian mentor, Rimsky-Korsakov. He was also fascinated by early music and sometimes incorporated antique styles into his works. In this series, Donald Macleod explores Respighi’s life and music from different perspectives, including his associations with Bologna, Rome and the USA, the important presence of his wife, Elsa, and also his complicated relationship with Toscanini.

Respighi was born in Bologna in 1879, and the city would have a lasting influence upon the composer, even after he’d moved to Rome. It was here, as a young man, that Respighi first discovered his interest in the music of the Renaissance and Baroque, which would have a great impact on his future compositions. Also in Bologna, he began performing in the Theatre Orchestra, a job which eventually led him to St. Petersburg where he encountered, Rimsky-Korsakov. Bologna also boasted a number of second-hand bookshops, where Respighi enjoyed spending his time. Over the years he amassed several thousand volumes, some of which inspired operas and songs.

Adagio con variazioni, P. 133
Sol Gabetta, cello
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Mario Venzago, conductor

Violin Sonata in B minor, P. 110 (Moderato)
Tasmin Little, violin
Piers Lane, piano

Burlesca per Orchestra, P. 59
Â鶹Éç Philharomonic
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor

Notte. P. 55a
Pia Heise, mezzo-soprano
Roger Vignoles, piano

Nebbie, P.64
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano
Malcolm Martineau, piano

Aretusa, P. 95
Linda Finnie, mezzo-soprano
Â鶹Éç Philharmonic
Richard Hickox, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for Â鶹Éç Wales