Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Debussy: La mer [Hybrid SACD]
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Free Music Notes for Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Debussy: La mer [Hybrid SACD]
Free Music Review: A cornerstone in the "Living Stereo" series
Hit: 5 Stars
Begin with the great Fritz Reiner and his Chicago Symphony Orchestra, add the vivid music of Respighi and Debussy, and throw in the RCA engineers (geniuses) of the legendary "Living Stereo" era. What follows is a spectacular marriage of performance and fidelity that leaves one breathless. It is difficult to adequately summarize the jaw-dropping exellence of these recordings, which were first unleashed to the public in 1959 and 1960! The original vinyl editions have always been praised as sonic showpieces, ideal for flexing the muscles of a high-end stereo system. This latest incarnation, in the SACD format, manages to grasp what was "perfect" and make it better.
The program includes Claude Debussy's pictorial "La Mer," a quintessential masterpiece of the French impressionists catalog. We also have Ottorino Respighi's "Fountains of Rome" and "Pines of Rome" --- two of the three large tone poems (the third being "Feste Romane") --- comprising his "Roman Trilogy." Each of these works has its own defined mood and personality, with "Fountains" being the most pensive and subdued. Maestro Reiner translates the composer's vision with equal sensitivity and flourish.
The main attraction here, however, is the thrilling "Pines of Rome." Respighi's masterfully orchestrated work is performed with an intensity that flirts with panic and hysteria, yet everything is totally under control under Reiner's baton. The finale --- one of the grandest in all of classical music --- will lift you from your seat, regardless of how many times it is heard. A stunning achievement!!!
Planning to be stranded on a desert isle anytime soon? Take this disc with you.
Free Music Review: The best there is. Period.
Hit: 5 Stars
Much has been written about this recording, pretty much all of it justified. I will only add that what makes this performance and recording of Pines so special is the fact that Reiner treats the score as music, not as empty-headed bombast. That's how it often sounds, but here, everything is so beautfully realized that the end result is simply glorious music-making. No muscle-bound power a la Solti, but flexibility, care, and sensitivity abound. The tempi are ideally judged, the finesse of the playing is beyond compare, the power in the last movement perfectly gauged, the recording matchless for balance and clarity. Fountains is every bit as good. For me, there are no performances that can touch these. La Mer, even with the tape-editing error in the middle movement, shows much the same feel, though in this case there are plenty of competing renditions that will satisfy just as well. The Debussy is fine, the Respighi is as close to perfect as anyone could want.Free Music Review: World's best pines/fountains recording. Period.
Hit: 5 Stars
I am a brass person by nature, so sorry to all of you woodwind and string players who may find your sections left out of this review.
Simply put, this recording is astounding. The world renowed CSO brass section clearly displays its unmatched power and breadth in this recording. Fritz Reiner also did an excellent job in helping the orchestra render this work so beautifully. The highlight of this recording is the brilliant finale -- Pines of the Appian Way -- where the CSO brass give one of the most incredible performances I have ever heard in my life.
If you are a fan of Respighi and/or brass istruments, this recording is a must have.
Free Music Review: Definitive SACD of Respighi's Roman music - Outstanding!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
This multichannel SACD utilizes the front 3 channels only, as this was the sound of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Fritz Reiner that was recorded more than 40 years ago by skilled technicians with top notch analog equipment. Absolutely puts you in the middle of the ninth or tenth row. This is the glorious Pines of Rome and spectacular Fountains of Rome that I grew up with, but with much cleaner and more dynamic sound!Free Music Review: Respighi Remastered
Hit: 5 Stars
There really are those of us who love the outstanding performances of the 50s and 60s without the scratch and pop ov vynil records. Hybrid CDs such as this one allow me to enjoy again the great artists, with a sound that rivals or exceeds the records released 50+ years ago.
Don't pass this up if you want to hear what may be the best performance of these works.
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