Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Enrique Batiz - Respighy: Symphonic Poems (2014) [Hi-Res]

Respighi’s international reputation which still exceeds that of any other Italian composer of his generation depends very largely on the symphonic poems that offer evocative and pictorial representations of Rome, providing a vibrant sound track to life in that ancient city.

„The Naxos recording, engineered by Brian Culverhouse in St Barnabas, Mitcham, is also in the demonstration bracket. The climax of The Fountain of Trevi at Midday, when Neptune parades across the heavens, is enormously spectacular, and here a computer organ was used to provide the underlying sustained pedal. The Pines and Fountains bring extremely fine playing with much warmth and finesse from the RPO. The sharp focus of the Naxos recording brings an extra degree of brazen splendour to the tumultuous popular crowd sequences in the Circus and Jubilee scenes of the Feste romane, while at the close of the October Festival the mandolin serenade emerges more tangibly.“ (Penguin Guide)

'The Batiz version has such excitement and verve that one can accept the extra degree of brazen extroversion' (Gramophone)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Enrique Bátiz, conductor

Recorded in London on 15th and 16th April, 1991
Produced by Brian B. Culverhouse
2xHD Mastering by René Laflamme

Digitally remastered