On vacation in Italy in 1903, English composer Edward Elgar wrote a friend, “Music is in the air. It’s everywhere--you only have to take as much of it as you need.” Indeed, for northern Europeans, Italy was not only a winter haven, but a land filled with song and dance. On this program, five orchestral pieces inspired by the music, people and scenery of Italy, including works by Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Elgar--and a contentious work by Richard Strauss.
Recordings Used
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 DGG 415 974-2 UPC 028941597427
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 DGG 415 974-2 UPC 028941597427
London Symphony Orchestra, Abbado
Italy After Dark EMI 077778002321 UPC 077778002321
“Bella Ragazza dalle Trecce Bionde” (Carlo Buti)
Masquerade Suite, Capriccio Italien, etc. BMG 09026-63302-2 UPC 090266330225
Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien, RCA Victor Symphony, Kondrashin
Harold en Italie (Hector Berlioz) Denon CO-73207 UPC 081757320726
Frankfurt Radio Symph, Inbal; Bashmet, viola
Elgar Overtures Chandos CHAN 8309 UPC 095115830925
"In the South," Scottish National Orchestra, Gibson
Mario Lanza; At His Best BMG 09026-68130-2 UPC 828767162522
“Faniculi, Fanicula”
Strauss: Aus Italien Naxos 8.550342 UPC 4891030503427
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Kosler