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Donald Macleod explores Respighi’s growing success in America after he catches the attention of arts patron, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge.

This week, we’re invited to explore the richly evocative musical landscape of Ottorino Respighi. The colourful inventiveness of his most popular music was often inspired by images, places or stories, like his trio of ‘Tone Poems’: Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome, and Roman Festivals. These works and others were frequently championed by celebrated conductor, Arturo Toscanini, and Respighi rose to become one of the leading Italian composers of the 20th century. He remains hugely popular with orchestras and audiences today. Respighi’s trademark orchestral brilliance betrays the influence of his Russian mentor, Rimsky-Korsakov. He was also fascinated by early music and sometimes incorporated antique styles into his works. In this series, Donald Macleod explores Respighi’s life and music from different perspectives, including his associations with Bologna, Rome and the USA, the important presence of his wife, Elsa, and also his complicated relationship with Toscanini.

In 1925, American arts patron, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, who was responsible for supporting some of the world’s greatest living composers, took an interest in Respighi. Ottorino and his wife joined her on holiday in Europe, where they were introduced to the likes of Ravel, Stravinsky and Bartok. In December, Respighi made his first visit to the USA, a watershed moment for the composer leading to a contract with the Welte-Mignon recording company, as well as future tours and commissions. Respighi was becoming a truly international musician.

Belfagor overture, P. 140
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
John Neschling, conductor

Poema autunnale, P. 146
Julia Fischer, violin
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo
Yakov Kreizberg, conductor

Deità silvane, P. 147 No 1 (excerpt)
Ian Bostridge, tenor
Saskia Giorgini, piano

Trittico botticelliano, P. 151
Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Tamás Vasary, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales