Two Types of Offerings

 

This recording goes back and forth between Solo Variation Concertante Works opposite alternate Opera Overtures.

Of the former, Riccardo Chailly provides us with five soloist centered pieces, most of the variation variety.

Most of these are early works, so the general feel is of the Classical Era, with gentrified propriety and simple grace.

The orchestra gives backdrop to the soloists, the headliner here being Jean-Yves Thibaudet for the 20-minute Piano Variations. The rest are Italian soloists, probably from the orchestra on hand (?), and each sound lovely in their spotlights. None of these compositions reel me in, but they are beautifully played nonetheless.

From the latter, at the top of this blog entry, the Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra of Milan play five overtures, all of which were used as alternates for certain opera performances, or were discarded altogether.

These opera Preludes and Sinfonias are more interesting to my ears comparatively, as this is obviously a mature Verdi composing. You can hear it, not only in the more interesting orchestrations, but the sheer dramatic scope of the compositions as the music progresses.

As with others in the Discoveries series from Decca and Chailly, I can't say any of this is must-hear music, but this recording offers another perspective for those who enjoy the style of Verdi and want to explore more.

 

  

Works
Sinfonia in C (5.11)
Piano Variations (20.14)
La Forza del Destino: Prelude (3.09)
Trumpet Adagio (5.20)
Aida: Sinfonia (11.15)
Oboe Variations (11.35)
Othello: Prelude (5.48)
I Lombardi: Act III Prelude (4.35)
Simon Boccanegra: Prelude (2.29)
Capriccio for Bassoon (10.32)

Soloists
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Luca Santaniello, violin
Gianluigi Petrarulo, trumpet
Alessandro Potenza, oboe
Andrea Magnani, bassoon

Performers
Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra Milan
Riccardo Chailly, conductor

Label: Decca
Year: 2003
Total Timing: 80.48

 

 

 

A fine way to explore more from Verdi, somewhat outside his life with opera.

All of the soloists play wonderfully, and the recordings sounds great, even if all of the music isn't essential to the composer.

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Verdi recordings HERE!