Respighi and the USA
Donald Macleod explores Respighi鈥檚 growing success in America after he catches the attention of arts patron, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge.
Donald Macleod explores Respighi鈥檚 growing success in America after he catches the attention of arts patron, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge.
This week, we鈥檙e 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 鈥楾one Poems鈥�: 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.
In 1925, American arts patron, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, who was responsible for supporting some of the world鈥檚 greatest living composers, took an interest in Respighi. Ottorino and his wife joined her on holiday in Europe, where they were introduced to the likes of Ravel, Stravinsky and Bartok. In December, Respighi made his first visit to the USA, a watershed moment for the composer leading to a contract with the Welte-Mignon recording company, as well as future tours and commissions. Respighi was becoming a truly international musician.
Belfagor overture, P. 140
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Li猫ge
John Neschling, conductor
Poema autunnale, P. 146
Julia Fischer, violin
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo
Yakov Kreizberg, conductor
Deit脿 silvane, P. 147 No 1 (excerpt)
Ian Bostridge, tenor
Saskia Giorgini, piano
Trittico botticelliano, P. 151
Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Tam谩s Vasary, conductor
Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 麻豆社 Wales
Last on
Music Played
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Ottorino Respighi
Belfagor overture
Performer: Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Li猫ge. Conductor: John Neschling.- BIS: BIS-2210.
- BIS.
- 4.
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Ottorino Respighi
Poema autunnale
Performer: Julia Fischer. Orchestra: Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Yakov Kreizberg.- Decca : 4782684.
- Decca.
- 1.
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Ottorino Respighi
Deita Silvane (excerpt)
Performer: Saskia Giorgini. Singer: Ian Bostridge.- PENTATONE : 5186-872.
- PENTATONE.
- 1.
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Ottorino Respighi
Trittico Botticelliano
Orchestra: Bournemouth Sinfonietta. Conductor: Tam谩s V谩s谩ry.- CHANDOS : CHAN-8913.
- CHANDOS.
- 8.
Broadcast
- Thu 24 Feb 2022 12:00麻豆社 Radio 3
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