Respighi: Pines of Rome / Fountains Of Rome / The Birds

Thank you Amazon for carrying such a large selection of titles from the Australian "Eloquence" series! While the majority of the performances in this mid-price import line are available stateside (but as different titles or with different packaging), many are not and needless to say I am snapping those CDs up quickly. This delightful disc is one of them. It collects Respighi's "Pines of Rome," "The Birds," and "Fountains of Rome" as performed by Istvan Kertesz and the London Symphony Orchestra. The performances, first released for Decca in 1969, are tremendous, though the disc does log in a bit on the short side -- only 55 minutes. But personally, I'll take anything by Kertesz, no matter how brief. It's a tragedy that Kertesz died in 1973 -- drowning while swimming in the Mediterranean -- at the age of 43. While most conductors live to a ripe old age, too many others have been plucked from us in their prime -- Argenta, Cantelli, Fricsay, and Kertesz among them. Savor the precious few recordings these greats left us. Anyway, I certainly look forward to getting more Amazon deliveries from Australia with love.

Down through the years, I have heard many performances of Respighi's "Pines of Rome" and his "Fountains of Rome". To be honest, I have really never had too much appreciation for the aforesaid works as I have heard them. That has changed with this splendid Telarc recording with the Atlanta Symphony conducted by Louis Lane.Thanks to this 1985 Digital recording at an unbelievable price of $9.98, I have far more appreciation for the subject works really enjoying them for a change. Louis Lane and the Atlanta Symphony play the "Pines of Rome" and "Fountains of Rome" (the descriptive "The Birds" is also included) clearly and not as heavy and dense sounding to me as I have heard in other recordings. All of the orchestra parts are very distinguishable to me. All in all, I really enjoyed this wonderful sounding recording.

This Decca CD with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Estvan Kertesz includes the Pines and Fountains of Rome along with the Birds. Unfortunately, there was not enough disc space to include the third in the Roman Triptych, the Roman Festivals. The world of music lost an outstanding conductor when Kertesz drowned at the age of 44 in 1973 while swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. The recordings of the two tone poems are full of life,rhythm and color. The audio is very good. I place these performances up with those of C. Dutoit's and G. Sinopoli's of the same two pieces. You will enjoy the separate performance of the birds as the Dove coos, the Hen struts about stiffly, the Nightingale warbles and the Cuckoo cries followed by a return of the stately Prelude.P.F.Lesses

If the majesty that was Rome fascinates you, then this Cd is for you. Nothing communicates the power of ancient Rome like the Pines of Rome or the Fountains of Rome. You feel the grandeur and your mind summons up classical images of the great works of antiquity, from the Aqueduct, Pantheon, Agora, Colosseum, to the seven hills.

This recording and performance is the favorite among all the Respighe in my collection. It is a great demo for us 'audiophiles'. I had a friend here and he liked it so much, I ordered a copy for him and mailed it out. He has enjoyed it as well. Highly recommended (O: I have over 100 Telarc recordings collected over the years, and their minimal microphone techniques have withstood the test of time. Enjoy!

Telarc sound quality and the Atlantic Symphony - need I say more? If you love Respighi, this is the album to buy.

One of my favorite works and so very well done. I've loved Respighi since I was in high school and I'm now 75. Can't believe it took this long to update my collection.

Very disappointed. Disc is bad, gets loud & soft. Am preparing to return it but have been sick.

Ce fut tout à fait par hasard en 1986 que je découvris Respighi, chez un disquaire berlinois, alors que j’étais éloigné de chez moi lors d’une obligatoire & longue année au pays de Goethe & de Maria Rilke. S’en était suivi pour moi d’explorer les œuvres de Malher, Bartok, Rachmaninov & d’enfin aller en séjour à Rome, où ma première pensée en contemplant le Forum fut pour Respighi…Ce n’est pas ici le meilleur enregistrement qui ait été effectué &, si vous disposez d’un égaliseur de sons vous pourrez contrebalancer la chose. Contrepartie fort intéressante à ce petit défaut, à ma connaissance c’est l’une des rares éditions regroupant « Pins de Rome », « Fontaine de Rome » & « Les oiseaux ». Quant’à Louis Lane, non, ce n’est pas ici la journaliste également compagne de Superman (rire).

La confezione del CD è giunta completamente rotta

「松」はLP時代からの愛聴盤。重厚にして雄大、且つ彫りが深くそれでいて弱音部はじっくりと聴かせてくれる名盤だと思っていました。今回CDで聴き直し、LPほどの音の広がりや豊かさは少々物足りなかったものの、やはり名演。ケルテスの代表盤の一つであると確信しました。

This recording, originally issued in 1969, belongs firmly to that golden era in Decca's analogue recordings where careful positioning of a limited number of microphones delivered realistic sound which was preferable to many examples of multi-miking prevalent today. Both Kertesz and the LSO were in top form for the occasion and, as is so often the case with this conductor, the recorded result seems to have the spontaneity of a 'live' occasion.At the time there was a superb alternative contender with the stereo LP of Reiner's classic account with the Chicago orchestra. In this age of compact discs the same Reiner recording exists but now offering far greater range and clarity in genuine SACD 3 channel form. The coupling is Debussy's La Mer but that is not as outstanding as the Pines and Fountains. Kertesz, on the other hand, offers a very fine 'Birds' to go with his excellent Pines and Fountains. In the meantime there is an equally fine Karajan offering to consider with yet another variation of coupling - the Ancient Airs. These are not the only versions available as the music has long been a favourite with recording companies to show off their hi-fi capabilities.Having owned quite a wide range of these options the reduced representation remaining in this collector's collection consists of Reiner (SACD), Karajan and Kertesz. Any of these three would be sufficient both musically and sonically to give considerable satisfaction. Couplings could reasonably prove to be the deciding factor. However, as one would expect, there are other factors to consider. Reiner produces the most grindingly powerful Pines final movement for example. Kertesz offers arguably more spontaneity than most while Karajan offers a deeply balanced overall response. At current favourable prices there seems every reason to obtain all three recordings!In summary Kertesz delivers readings of power & spontaneity plus Birds of delicacy in wide ranging and believable sound

CD und die Abwicklung drumherum - alles fein.In Konzerten oder dem Radio höre ich oft Stücke, die ich haben möchte. Schön, wenn man sie dann auf diesem Wege finden kann.