Gianandrea Noseda, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - Respighi: La Boutique fantasque, La pentola magica & Prelude and Fugue in D Major (2003) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. La Boutique Fantasque, P 120: I. Overture. Tempo di Marcia
02. La Boutique Fantasque, P 120: II. Tarantella. Allegro con brio
03. La Boutique Fantasque, P 120: III. Mazurka
04. La Boutique Fantasque, P 120: IV. Cossack Dance. Allegretto marcato
05. La Boutique Fantasque, P 120: V. Cancan. Allegretto grottesco
06. La Boutique Fantasque, P 120: VI. Valse lente. Andantino moderato
07. La Boutique Fantasque, P 120: VII. Nocturne. Andantino
08. La Boutique Fantasque, P 120: VIII. Galop. Vivacissimo
09. La Pentola Magica, P 129: I. Prelude
10. La Pentola Magica, P 129: IIa. Armenian Song
11. La Pentola Magica, P 129: IIb. Dance. Moderato
12. La Pentola Magica, P 129: III. Entry of the Tsar with the Bridegrooms. Lento
13. La Pentola Magica, P 129: IV. Scene of the Tsarevich. Andante
14. La Pentola Magica, P 129: V. Dance of the Tartar Archers. Allegro non troppo
15. La Pentola Magica, P 129: VI. Introduction. Allegro vivacissimo
16. La Pentola Magica, P 129: VII. Cossack Dance. Allegretto vivace
17. La Pentola Magica, P 129: VIII. Dance of Seduction by the Tsarevna and Her Retinue. Allegretto
18. La Pentola Magica, P 129: IX. Scene of the Kisses and Arrival of the Tsar. Allegro
19. La Pentola Magica, P 129: X. Finale. Lento
20. Prelude and Fugue in D Major, P 158: I. Prelude. Allegro
21. Prelude and Fugue in D Major, P 158: II. Fugue. Allegro



Noseda's vigorous account of La Boutique fantasque makes a fine coupling with two rarities which similarly show off Respighi's brilliance as an orchestrator of others' music. La Pentolamagica ('The magic pot') is a ballet score from 1920 whose scenario has been lost, though the titles of the ten brief movements give an idea of the Russian story behind it. Respighi drew on relatively neglected Russian composers such as Grechaninov, Arensky and Rubinstein, and Polish-born Pachulski, as well as including his arrangements of Russian folk themes. Slow music and a relaxed mood predominates in evocative orchestration. His joy in orchestral sound is even more striking in the exuberant account of his arrangement of Bach's D major Prelude and Fugue, with rich, weighty brass and dramatic contrasts of timbre and dynamic. The performance of La Boutique fantasque has similar zest. The playing of the BBC Philharmonic is expressive, with rubato that dancers wouldn't welcome on stage. The speeds tend to be a trifle extreme, bringing an apt and enjoyable sense of danger in the pointing of the tricky woodwind flurries dotted through the score. The Chandos sound, satisfyingly full and bright, matches the performance.

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