Déjà Review: this review was first published in June 2002 and the recording is still available.
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
Belkis, Queen of Sheba – Suite (1934) *
Dance of the Gnomes (1919)
The Pines of Rome (1924)
Chad Skelton (tenor) *
Minnesota Orchestra / Eiji Oue
rec. 2001, Orchestral Hall, Minneapolis
Reference Recordings RR-95CD DDD [62]
Belkis, Queen of Sheba was amongst Respighi’s last works. It was a full length ballet which used a large orchestra, an offstage band and numerous Eastern instruments, a chorus and narrator. At the premiere given at La Scala in 1932 an estimated 1000 performers were involved. Respighi’s opulent score identifies the composer as a pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov. The Suite was prepared by Respighi himself and published in 1934. This is the premiere performance of the Suite in the exact form specified by the composer and uses the tenor instead of a trumpet in the last movement.
The music is tuneful and in places very boisterous and noisy. It has been criticised as being reminiscent of a Hollywood Biblical epic, but it is probably more accurate to comment how Respighi’s style has been copied for use in such movies. This performance is well played and red-blooded where necessary. It is very exciting, especially in the last two movements. It is however perhaps not so brazen as the Chandos recording with Geoffrey Simon and the Philharmonia but offers an equally valid and interesting interpretation.
Dance of the Gnomes (sometimes called Ballad of the Gnomes) is based upon a poem by Carlo Clausetti which describes how the she-gnomes cavort with their mutual husband and then kill him and mutilate his corpse. This unpleasant subject has inspired Respighi to produce one of his best orchestral pieces, which is surprisingly seldom played. It is an explosion of fascinating orchestration, with occasional shrieks and touches of the exotic. There is a very well recorded version on Chandos in which Edward Downes conducts the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, but I find the conducting of Oue more satisfying and interesting.
The Pines of Rome is probably Respighi’s best known score and the work which led to his international fame. It has numerous fine recordings including interpretations by conductors such as Reiner, Ormandy, Toscanini, Jansons, Karajan and Muti. It would be surprising if a potential purchaser of this new disc would not already possess a good version of this masterpiece. However this new recording is a fine one, although a lower key performance than some; the famous sound of the nightingale is almost inaudible and the final march is exciting but not overwhelming.
The recording throughout is clear and accurate, but slightly recessed and without that in-your-face attitude which can make this music sound overdone. The notes by Richard Freed are exceptionally comprehensive and the design which features the ‘Queen of Sheba’ by Edward Dulac is very attractive.
This record focuses on the exotic side of Respighi’s work and contrasts two little known pieces with a very well known one all in fine performances, well presented. Recommended.
Arthur Baker
Buying this recording via a link below generates revenue for MWI and helps us keep free access to the site
