Respighi's Rome

Oregon Symphony: DePriest (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 29, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delos Records
• ASIN: B00005KA1C
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,546 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtakingly beautiful, July 1, 2001

By 

Michael E. Fine (Lake Ariel, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Respighi's Rome (Audio CD)

It's been my privilege to have produced two thirds - Pines and Fountains - of this shimmeringly beautiful recording. I don't know another recording that has both the transparency and power that James DePreist brings to this music, not to mention the superb playing of the Oregon Symphony. The clarinet solo in the Pines 3rd movement still takes my breath away after many hearings. This recording - and I don't say this about all - was a joy to produce and remains a treat to hear.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Look Out, Fritz!, February 17, 2003

By 

James Shiver - See all my reviews

This review is from: Respighi's Rome (Audio CD)

Respighi's Pines and Fountains are very well represented on disk, and Fritz Reiner's 1959 recording with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is generally (and rightfully) considered the best of the lot, both technically and musically.
I've had a love affair with the Reiner recording for years and thought I had no real reason to look elsewhere. Now along comes James DePreist and his fabulous Oregon Symphony Orchestra with a version that actually made me set ol' Fritz aside for a while and give the newcomer several turns.
Don't shy away because of the relative obscurity of the Oregon Symphony. DePreist has been with them since 1980 and has built them into a tremendous orchestra. Speaking of DePreist, he is a national treasure and definitely among the finest conductors in the world today. Were he in New York or Boston, he might be a national hero. On this disc, he gets unbelievably powerful, beautiful, and committed playing from the OSO.
As I said earlier, the Reiner is rightfully considered the finest recording of these pieces. It has stood the test of time and no American orchestra/conductor combination has ever put out virtuosity like the CSO/Reiner team. But, for a while, James DePreist and the Oregon Symphony caused me to allow my ear to wander. Don't pass up this experience.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Amazing Rome Trilogy, December 4, 2008

By 

teva_man "teva_man" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Respighi's Rome (The Fountains, the Pines, The Festivals) (MP3 Download)

I will admit that I am a slightly biased reviewer of this disc, because I grew up with the Oregon Symphony and have gone to their concerts off and on for 25 years now. Although the orchestra is definitely not one of the world's greatest, they are capable of great things - and this recording of the Respighi Rome Trilogy is easily my favorite. I have nothing to criticize at all. The tempi, dynamic contrasts, phrasing, and ensemble work are truly amazing. DePreist has never been one of my favorite conductors - but his recordings are often some of the best, and this is definitely one of them. Upon listening to probably 20 different discings of the 3 works - Fountains, Pines, Festivals - this one always held my attention completely all the way through. I'd have to say that the disc of Dutoit and the Montreal Phil is nowhere near as good as the Oregon Symphony's...and that's saying a lot!

Kudos to Yoshi Nakao, long-time principal clarinet, for the ravishing solo in the 3rd movement of Pines. A shout out to Fred Korman, retired principal oboe. Equal kudos to the late Martha Herby, flute, who left us way too soon and added so much to the orchestra's sound. Thanks to Neil DePonte, perennial principal percussion. And to retired long-time concertmaster Michael Foxman, whose solos always added a lot to many concerts, as well as this recording.

Needless to say, I highly recommend this disc and sincerely hope that the Oregon Symphony will keep recording.