Ottorino Respighi: La Primavera (Naxos Audio CD)

Soloists, Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Adriano


Respighi's reputation depends largely on his symphonic poems whose bold use of orchestral colour derived from Rimsky-Korsakov’s example.

His rarely heard ballet La pentola magica (The Magic Pot) pays tribute to other Russian composers including Arensky, Grechaninov, Pachulski, Rebikov and Anton Rubinstein.

His triumphant cantata La Primavera (Spring) was based on Constant Zarian’s adaptations of ancient Armenian poetry, while the song cycle Quattro liriche su poesie popolari armene uses archaic church modes and a quasi-Armenian ensemble to create an exotic religious mood.

“Adriano is a Respighi scholar and authority, and plans in the years ahead to record more of that composer's little-known gems for Marco Polo. To Adriano, his orchestra, and Marco Polo, we must say, ‘thanks!’”
Classical.net