Violin Concerto in A major / Aria for Strings / Suite for Strings / Rossiniana

"The best known work here is Rossiniana, dating from 1925 and an example of Respighi's postmodern flamboyance at its best. The disc's raison d'être, however, is Di Vittorio's performing version of the Violin Concerto in A...in essence, it's a big, late Romantic concerto, reminiscent of Brahms. Laura Marzadori does some nice things with it - the ornate slow movement is particularly refined"
(The Guardian)

"Salvatore di Vittorio, an enterprising scholar/ conductor, has completed Respighi's Violin Concerto in A and conducts it here with the sinuous-toned young violinist Laura Marzadori tackling the solo part...The 1903 piece has lushly rhapsodic moments...The fillers are fun"
(The Times)

"The Chamber Orchestra of New York 'Ottorino Respighi' was founded by Salvatore Di Vittorio in 2006. It comprises leading young professional musicians. As its name implies, a principal aim is to promote the music of Respighi and other Italian masters. On the evidence of this CD, their enthusiasm and that of their conductor is indisputable. His revisions, transcriptions and completions are sensitive to Respighi's neo-Baroque style. The recorded sound is first class."
(Bargain of the Month MusicWeb June 2011)

Although Respighi's reputation rests on the justly celebrated trilogy of Roman tone poems, he also wrote a number of distinguished works in other forms. His unfinished First Violin Concerto in A major (1903) was recently revised and completed by composer/conductor Salvatore Di Vittorio, who directed its première in 2010.

This is the world premiere recording of the Violin Concerto, performed by the young Italian violinist Laura Marzadori. Harking back to the masterful writing of Vivaldi and Mendelssohn, the Concerto also foreshadows the orchestral technicolour of the great Italian composer's 'Roman Trilogy'.

The lyrical Aria and graceful Suite, newly transcribed by Di Vittorio, embody Respighi's abiding love of Baroque music, while Rossiniana is a delightful reworking of Rossini's piano music, Les riens (Trifles), much enhanced by Respighi's contribution of new melodies and innovative orchestration.