Respighi : Il Tramonto, Pini di Roma, Fontana di Roma, Feste Romane, etc / Riccardo Muti(cond), Philadelphia Orchestra, etc

EMI has released compilations of Ottorino Respighi's orchestral works on more than one occasion, typically featuring the so-called "Roman Trilogy" at its core; this 2009 release is no different. For listeners looking for their first introduction to the popular output of this master orchestrator, this two-disc set certainly covers the basics and does a sufficient job providing quality recordings. Collectors, however, will notice that there are some performances that are better than others. The Philadelphia Orchestra under Riccardo Muti takes charge of the Roman Trilogy: Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome, and Roman Festival. While emotionally charged and exciting, Muti's Philadelphia Orchestra pales in comparison to Ormandy's more precise, well-balanced offerings with the same orchestra. EMI's sound here is just too flat, not allowing all of the parts to jump out at the listener nor capturing the true breadth of dynamics. Disc 2 of the set fares much better with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Neville Marriner's unsurpassed performances of Gli Uccelli (the birds) and Trittico Botticelliano. Recorded sound quality is markedly superior here, with increased clarity, better balance overall, and a sense of being in the midst of the orchestra while listening. The set concludes with a lush, captivating performance of La Sensitiva (a setting of Shelley) performed by mezzo-soprano Janet Baker.