Search - Ottorino Respighi, Daniel Nazareth, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra :: Respighi: Sinfonia Drammatica

Wowww!

Sungu Okan | Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey | 07/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is a very good recording for any Respighi admirers or searching for unkonwn post-romantic music.



Respighi written this work in his early period. It is written for very large orchestra (quadruple orchestra). And there are many influences from Mahler. Especially in climaxes of the last movement, Allegro impetuoso. With its' orchestration, it is similar to R. Strauss's orchestration. And in the second movement, Andante, there are beautiful impressionist Debussyian colours. But even so, in this work, there are twinkles of his future that he will write Pini de Roma, Feste e Fontane di Roma.



I like especially the last movement, with it's contrasts between very symphonic and very calm passages.



The performance is very good. This is one of the best recordings of Slovak P O. And Daniel Nazareth's reading of this hard work is amazing. Even so the sound quality is very good.



This is a very worthy listening, and I think, at this price, you can buy this without hesitate.



Highly recommended."

Too expansively written and performed

Czinczar | Southeast Michigan, USA | 03/31/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A Respighi symphony? A rare, uanppreciated find, you might think. Not so. There's a reason you've never heard this symphony, and probably never will in concert. Several composers' influences are heard, to the point of making it derivitive. The "drama" contained in this symphony is stretched too thin. Material that would have made a good 15 minute tone poem is stretched out into a 58 minute symphony. To make the drama work here requires a tight, dynamic performance, accentuating what energy is here to be had. This performance doesn't do that. This is a straightforward, adequate performance that never tries to inject the needed juice. Fantastic engineering, though. If you're a die-hard Respighi fan, I could approve of this as a performance to buy. But if you're merely curious, I don't think your curiosity will be rewarded."

Symphonically Dramatic...for sure

vmzfla | Orlando, Fl. | 02/25/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Rimsky-Korsakov schooled Respighi composed this early three

movement work in 1914. It is a massive piece for large orchestra

and expanded battery of percussion. Eclectic in style, it consists of elements of Mahler and Debussy(especially in the 2nd.

move.)and a touch of R. Strauss with occassional orchestral effects. The dramatic mood carries consistently throughout, and the last few bars of the finale seem almost lavishly Hollywood inspired. What is lacking is a memorable theme, that made his "Pines and Fountaines of Rome" so great. So, this overall is a good work, decently performed, lacking a bit in detail from the engineers, half the price of it's only competitor. An inexpensive way to round out your Respighi collection."