“… This is a fabulous disc. John Wilson puts these scores across with a dramatist’s flair but also with a scrupulous ear for detail. His hand-picked orchestra plays superbly from start to finish. The big moments are absolutely thrilling, but just as exciting are the many passages of quiet subtlety; these are all delivered with unfailing sensitivity… I really couldn’t fault these performances even if I wanted to. But then there’s the question of the recorded sound. I listened to the stereo layer of this SACD and was bowled over. In fact, right now I’m struggling to think of an orchestral recording that has impressed me more. Producer Brian Pidgeon and engineer Ralph Couzens have come up with an outstanding recording which has all the impact that you could desire in the loud passages, yet which also does full justice to the many passages of quiet music. This is a knock-out recording… In my enthusiasm for the performances and engineering, I must not neglect to mention also that Nigel Simeone’s notes are excellent. If you enjoy Respighi’s brilliant orchestral portraits of Rome then I urge you to acquire this disc. It is now surely the top recommendation for these wonderfully colourful tone poems.”

We’re sharing our favorite albums from the past year, hand-picked from each host. It’s music we don’t want you to miss!

 

“If the final section of the Pines of Rome doesn’t get your heartbeat up, see your doctor. The Roman Trilogy is not subtle music, but it also reminds us that Respighi studied orchestration with Rimsky-Korsakov. John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London keep this music visceral, which is the most important mission of anyone playing this music. Break out the popcorn and crank up the volume.”

“… I consider this a wholly successful disc and it is a shoe-in for a place in my record-of-the-year list. I would be amazed if it does not feature in at least the engineering category for major awards next year. I would like to think it would be considered for orchestral awards too … Even by the consistently high standards of the label, this might just be one of Chandos' finest feats of engineering ever, showcasing the superlative and sophisticated playing of John Wilson's Sinfonia of London. A genuine triumph.”

In all three of these works it is clear that Wilson knows exactly what he wants and his players oblige with commendable enthusiasm. The Sinfonia of London has a lustrous sound that is cohesive and impeccably blended. Its musicians clearly revel in the virtuosity that Respighi requires of them producing wonderfully manicured orchestral timbres that do full justice to the wealth of beguiling orchestral effects present in these scores.The excellence of Wilson’s Sinfonia of London response to these sonically opulent pieces is matched by that of the recorded sound superbly engineered in 24-bit / 96KHz and 5.0 channel surround by engineer Ralph Couzens. The venue was the Church of St Augustine Kilburn, London (2-7 September 2019). The acoustic of the church provides a wonderful sense of space that remains open, vivid and detailed even in the heaviest orchestral climaxes and there are many of those in these three pieces... These vivid and compelling performances can be enthusiastically recommended.”