Ottorino Respighi Howard Griffiths Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Bratislava - Respighi Piano Concerto Fantasia Slava (3 tracks) +Album Reviews

How much we miss

Santiago Barcon | Mexico city | 06/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Normally we build our library on the classics and the buy another version, and another. That is fine, it allows you to compare lectures and is very interesting.On the down side we miss music like the one in this CD. It is a jewel. Sometimes is difficult to remember that you are hearing Respighi. The perfomance and recording are first rate, after hearing it 3 times in one day, it still grows.Get it!"

Some early Respighi

Johnathan Flanders | New Orleans | 03/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't expect music here similar to his Rome symphonic poems. Respighi's Piano Concerto was written in 1902 and is a much earlier work than his later masterpieces. However, it's still a good Romantic concerto and is quite unique in some respects. As the liner notes provide, "the piano writing is often florid, idiomatic and demanding, in music that is thoroughly romantic in character, moving to a calmer central section, its serenity shattered by the outburst that marks the final section of the work, a dramatic finale, that brings its own moments of repose and of bravura." The other pieces on the disc, the Toccata (from 1928, the same year as his Feste romane) and the Fantasia Slava (1903) are not bad either. The Fantasia Slava, as its name suggests, contains several Russian themes and elements, probably resulting from Respighi's brief study with Rimsky-Korsakov in St. Petersburg around that period. The sound quality on this CD is excellent and the performance rewarding - but hard to gauge and compare against others as these works are rarely recorded and performed. If you're a die-hard Respighi fan or wish to curious how he composed for the piano this is a good CD to pick up. However, there are better, lesser known piano concertos out there. I'm really picky when it comes to this genre as I love piano concertos and own many of the releases from Hyperion in the genre of Romantic Piano Concertos. In my humble opinion, the BEST piano concerto ever written - (yes even better than any of Mozart's, Beethoven's, and Rachmaninov's), is Nikolai Medtner's 1st Concerto in C Minor. Pick up a copy of it, with Demidenko playing as soloist, and be prepared to be blown away. Conceptually as a whole, it is the most moving, driven concerto I've ever heard. Just wish someone would perform it in concert once and awhile..."

A diamond in the rough

Adrian | Gold Coast, Australia | 02/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How could anyone say that Respighi didn't write tuneful music? These piano concertos will prove even the strongest Respighi detractor to be wrong. Scherbakov wonderful playing brings out the Russian quality of the music, sounding very much like Rachmaninov. This is thoroughly appropriate as Respighi was influenced by his time spent in Russia. The slower middle sections of all three pieces are quite touching, and the faster movements full of pianistic fire and passion. Of course all this is accompanied with Respighi's unrivalled orchestrations."

COMPETELY ACCESSIBLE

GEORGE RANNIE | DENVER, COLORADO United States | 08/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The works on this bargain priced Naxos recording find the composer Ottorino Respighi, to me, at his most accessible. It contains three late romantic sounding works in one movement each spanning well over twenty (20) minutes each with fast and slow sections in each one. I loved especially the concerto with its piano spanning arpeggios, exciting octave passages and its beautiful and very melodic slow section. To be honest, down through the years, I have for the most part found a lot of Respighi's music somewhat inaccessible to my musical understanding finding it kind of dissonant and rather unappealing to me. NOT with this disc; the music contained therein is very accessible and enjoyable, to me, to listen to. The two other works Toccata for Piano and Orchestra and Fantasia Slava for Piano and Orchestra also written by Respighi in the early 1920's are wonderfully romantic too being filled with beautiful melodies harmonies and much pianist virtuosity.

Konstantin Scherbakov plays these works splendidly with loads of "bravado" and deep feeling. The Slovak Radio Symphony under Howard Griffiths provides great accompaniment to his wonderful playing. The recorded sound is great too.

So if you want to expand your musical horizons a little, as I did, buy this disc; it is marvelous!

"

Good, but not the best of Respighi!

vmzfla | Orlando, Fl. | 11/17/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"For those, like myself who are hooked on Ottorino Respighi's colorful tone poems depicting Rome, will find this piano with orchestra issue mildly interesting. With his 1902 "Piano Concerto" an early work that preceded "Fontane di Roma" by 12yrs. don't expect the same influences of the great tone poems, instead soloist Howard Griffths must navigate through demanding passages romantic in character. It is a work opening in grandiose, then lyrical calmness and concludes with bravura. The 1903 "Fantasia Slava" a kind of homage to Russia, where Respighi briefly studied with Rimsky-Korsakov. The work has a somber grieving themed opening, but ultimately folk influenced dance elements interplay between piano and orchestra. The whole piece taking on the spirit of Rachmaninov. The "Toccata" comes from the same year as the 1928 "Feste romane" but exhibits a Baroque influence, with it's abrupt sporadic rhythms. It includes a novel central section that offers exchanges between cello soloist and the pianist. A very melancholy passage before giving way to a brilliant conclusion. While all those who participate in this recording are more than competent, only truly committed collectors will find this issue of interest."

Search - Ottorino Respighi, Howard Griffiths, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava) :: Respighi: Piano Concerto / Fantasia Slava

CD Details

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews

	Ottorino Respighi, Howard Griffiths, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava) Respighi: Piano Concerto / Fantasia Slava Genre: Classical Track Listings (3) - Disc #1 Piano Concerto In A Minor For Piano And Orchestra (1902) Toccata For Piano And Orchestra (1928) Fantasia Slava For Piano And Orchestra: Fantasia Slava For Piano And Orchestra (1903)
? Larger Image