To assert Francesco La Vecchia and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma's 2009 digital recording of Giuseppe Martucci's warmly romantic Symphony No. 1 is the finest ever made is not to over praise it. After all, there have heretofore been only two other digital recordings of the bighearted romantic work: an unidiomatic 2000 Kees Bakels account with the Malaysian Philharmonic and an ardent 1997 Francesco d'Avalos performance with London's Philharmonia. Yet La Vecchia and the Rome orchestra go deeper into the score than d'Avalos, ...
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To assert Francesco La Vecchia and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma's 2009 digital recording of Giuseppe Martucci's warmly romantic Symphony No. 1 is the finest ever made is not to over praise it. After all, there have heretofore been only two other digital recordings of the bighearted romantic work: an unidiomatic 2000 Kees Bakels account with the Malaysian Philharmonic and an ardent 1997 Francesco d'Avalos performance with London's Philharmonia. Yet La Vecchia and the Rome orchestra go deeper into the score than d'Avalos, and find more in it of Martucci and less of Brahms, the Italian composer's obvious model. Plus, La Vecchia has the inestimable advantage of having an orchestra that understands Martucci's harmonic and melodic language and is wholeheartedly dedicated to turning in the best possible playing for their countryman. The combination is unbeatable and this may be the performance that finally makes Martucci's reputation. The four other pieces here are less imposing but no less lovely,...
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