Respighi: Ballad of the Gnomes; Three Botticelli Pictures
SIGCD2161 (Cala Signum, CD)
REISSUE (10 March 2023)
Playing time: 69'04"
Tracks: 9
Booklet pages: 12
℗ 2006 Cala Records
© 2023 Cala Signum
Main country of recording: United Kingdom
Reviewer: Geoff Pearce
Review of Respighi: Ballad of the Gnomes; Three Botticelli Pictures published on 21 March 2023
Leslie Person, organ (tracks 5-8)
Alexander Baillie, cello (track 9)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Geoffrey Simon, conductor
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936):
1 Ballad of the Gnomes
Three Botticelli Pictures
2 Spring
3 The Adoration of the Magi
4 The Birth of Venus
Suite in G major for Strings and Organ
5 Preludio
6 Aria
7 Pastorale
8 Cantico
9 Adagio with Variations for Cello and Orchestra
Geoffrey Simon's championing of lesser-known works by great composers has proved successful both on record and in concert. His exploration of Respighi's catalogue has yielded a number of interesting and hitherto neglected compositions. He leads the Philharmonia Orchestra in this edition of the Cala Signum reissue series.
Recorded 19-22 December 1990 at Goldsmiths College, London UK.