Nino Rota's ballet suite La Strada and the Dances from Il Gattopardo are frequently paired, being similar works that are related to his film scores, yet not really suites from film scores. In 1966 Rota fashioned a 12-scene ballet out of the story and music from La Strada, but also borrowed music from several other of his works. The suite in which the music from the film La Strada most frequently is heard, is actually from this ballet. The dances from Il Gattopardo were recycled from other film scores, with the addition of ...
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Nino Rota's ballet suite La Strada and the Dances from Il Gattopardo are frequently paired, being similar works that are related to his film scores, yet not really suites from film scores. In 1966 Rota fashioned a 12-scene ballet out of the story and music from La Strada, but also borrowed music from several other of his works. The suite in which the music from the film La Strada most frequently is heard, is actually from this ballet. The dances from Il Gattopardo were recycled from other film scores, with the addition of Rota's orchestration of a Verdi waltz for piano, and were not meant to be used as the underscore to the dramatic action of the film, but as the dances heard in a ballroom scene. Conductor Josep Pons obviously has a great sympathy for Rota's music. He has included the Concerto Soirée, a pure concert work by Rota (themes from which were also later recycled for film scores) with soloist Benedetto Lupo, with the two suites in this lavishly designed package from Harmonia Mundi. Pons and...
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