Search - Respighi, Mata, Dso :: Respighi: Roman Festivals, Brazilian Impressions, Pines of Rome

Eduardo Mata had a special flair for music of this period, and his Respighi record is one of the best. The coupling is interesting. Whereas most recordings would include The Fountains of Rome, Mata chooses instead the evocative and rarely heard Brazilian Impressions. This exotic piece contains a particularly creepy musical illustration of a snake pit, followed by a zippy Brazilian dance finale. The other two works are performed with sledgehammer impact and uninhibited brilliance. Dorian's recording is an audiophile's dream, offering both analytical detail and warmth within a huge dynamic range. --David Hurwitz