Rome Symphony, La Vecchia - Busoni: Clarinet Concertino / Divertimento / Rondo arlecchinesco / Tanzwalzer (2012)

All six of these orchestral works exemplify Busoni’s personalised classicism. The Lustspielouvertüre (Comedy Overture) is light, and almost Mozartian in clarity, whilst Gesang vom Reigen der Geister (Song of the Spirit Dance) is a delicately scored chamber piece, forward-looking in both style and content. Both the Concertino for Clarinet and the Flute Divertimento reveal Busoni’s affinity for solo instruments; the former is deftly organised and the latter more obviously capricious. The spirit of Johann Strauss II haunts the infectious Tanzwalzer and the Rondò arlecchinesco unleashes Busoni’s broadsides of wit.