Paintings In Sound

This cd presents a fine lesson in the art of orchestration featuring music by Respighi. The Bournemouth Sinfonietta are conducted by Tamas Vasary with solo contributions from mezzo Linda Finnie on Il Tramonto and cellist Raphael Wallfisch on the Adagio Con Variazioni. This is melodious music, easy to listen to without being "easy listening". The two main features are Gil Uccelli, a suite for small orchestra and Trittico Botticelliano for small orchestra. Gil Uccelli ( The Birds ) utilises themes from the baroque era for the variations, including an aria by Pasquini and the Hen, a harpsichord piece by Rameau. The Three Botticelli Pictures are inspired by artworks of Botticelli, The Spring, The Birth Of Venus and The Adoration of the Magi. The Spring has hints of Vivaldi without quoting directly, while the Magi uses the wonderful tune from the Epiphany hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Wallfisch plays the romantic cello adagio beautifully and the song setting is of a poem by Shelley, The Sunset, in an Italian translation. Not the most profound music amd Respighi has similar problems to Strauss regarding his allegiances in WW2. But all that notwithstanding, this is a very pleasant disk.