Respighi: Church Windows (CD review)

Also, Brazilian Impressions; Rossiniana. JoAnn Falletta, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Naxos 8.557711.

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) might have been just another ordinary composer if he hadn't discovered his talent for (and the public's appreciation for) suites of short, highly descriptive tone paintings. He made his mark in 1916 with The Fountains of Rome, which he described as a "Symphonic Poem." From then on, it was The Pines of Rome, Three Botticelli Pictures, The Birds, The Festivals of Rome, and so on. The present disc contains two more such suites, Church Windows and Brazilian Impressions, plus a tribute to Rossini called Rossiniana.

The four-part Church Windows, which began life as a series of piano pieces, premiered in orchestral form in 1927, and like others of Respighi's works, it is big and slightly medieval sounding, inspired by his own religious convictions and by scenes from stained-glass windows. JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic play them more gently than I've heard them before, yet the musicians well capture the fervent spirit of the music, both in its grandeur and repose.

The three Brazilian Impressions that follow are less descriptive than Church Windows and more like hints and suggestions of the composer's trip to Brazil in 1927. The music is actually more subtle and atmospheric than you might expect.

Finally, Respighi always liked Rossini's music, as his ballet La boutique fantasque had shown in 1919. So he turned again to the inspiration of Rossini in 1925 with what he called piano "trifles," later orchestrated as a suite of four numbers. They possess a warm Italian glow, which, again, Falletta and the Buffalo players amply capture. This is not great music, but it is charming and entertaining.

The sound Naxos engineers provide for the music is first-rate as well. Indeed, it is among the best recordings I've heard from Naxos in quite a while. And given the number of recordings the Naxos people produce every month, that's saying something. The sonics are ultrasmooth, yet reasonably well detailed, too, with a generous stereo spread and a warm, ambient acoustic. Let's say the sound matches the music.

JJP