Respighi: The Birds; Ancient Airs & Dances; Canzone e Danza
(from Brazilian Expressions)
Antal Dorati
London Sym. Orchestra
Philharmonia Hungarica
(Birds) “vividness of detail particularly suits Dorati’s spirited account of The Birds, bringing pictorial piquancy of great charm and strongly projected dance rhythms” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)
(Ancient Airs) “The Hungarian string players are exceptionally gifted technically, and their intonation …is absolutely perfect. A vast improvement, both technically and musically, on the earlier recordings….. My favourite movement, the anonymous Italiana from Suite III, is played with great affection and warmth, and the pizzicato notes of the lower strings sound lusciously vibrant. If you like old music tastefully renovated, beautifully played and magnificently recorded, this is the record for you” (Gramophone)
THE BIRDS
1 Prelude 3:05
2 The Dove 4:24
3 The Hen 3:02
4 The Nightingale 4:26
5 The Cuckoo 4:15
BRAZILIAN IMPRESSIONS
6 Canzone e Danza 4:33
ANCIENT AIRS AND DANCES
Suite No.1 for orchestra
7 Balletto detto “Il Conte Orlando” (Simone Molinaro) 3:07
8 Gagliarda (Vincenzo Galilei) 3:56
9 Villanella (Anon) 5:16
10 Passo mezzo e mascherada (Anon) 4:09
Suite No.2 for orchestra
11 Laura soave: Balletto con gagliarda, saltarello e canario (Fabrizio Caroso) 4:07
12 Danza rustica (Jean Baptiste Besard) 4:13
13 Campanae Parisienses (Anon) – Aria (Marin Mersenne) 5:10
14 Bergamasca (Bernardo Gianoncelli) 5:40
Suite No.3 for string orchestra
15 Italiana (Anon) 3:45
16 Arie di corte (Jean Baptiste Besard) 7:52
17 Siciliana (Anon) 3:06
18 Passacaglia (Ludovico Roncalli) 4:07