"These people really know how to record an orchestra."
- Richard Freed, WETA

RR-95CD Cover
RESPIGHI
Belkis, Queen of Sheba - Suite
Dance of the Gnomes
The Pines of Rome


EIJI OUE
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA

RR-95CD
[HDCD]

"Dazzling orchestral colors", is one way to describe the music of Ottorino Respighi.

BELKIS, QUEEN OF SHEBA was conceived as an evening-long ballet with singing whose lavishness has kept it from view since its La Scala premiere.   This is only the second recording of a suite prepared by the composer - for the first time with the tenor solo (sung by Chad Shelton), and with the movements in the correct order.   The music's oriental perfumes and barbaric splendor guarantee the enthusiasm of anyone who hears it.

DANCE OF THE GNOMES is a little-known but characteristically dramatic and colorful tone poem.

"Prof." Johnson's stunning HDCD® sonics make Respighi's "greatest hit" THE PINES OF ROME (with extra brasses and organ!) a dazzling conclusion to this unusual, inventive program.


Related back catalog on Reference Recordings
featuring Eiji Oue & the Minnesota Orchestra

RR-93 - Copland 100
RR-92 - Bolero!
RR-91 - Valentino Dances
RR-88 - Mahler - Das Lied
RR-87 - Bernstein
RR-83 - Richard Strauss
RR-82 - Mephisto & Co.
RR-80 - Ports of Call
RR-79 - Pictures at an Exhibition
RR-71 - Exotic Dances
RR-70 - Stravinsky

PROGRAM LISTING

Belkis, Queen of Sheba - Suite
1.   Solomon's Dream
2.   The Dance of Belkis at Dawn
3.   War Dance
4.   Orgiastic Dance (Chad Shelton, Tenor)

Dance of the Gnomes
5.   Allegro Vivace
6.   Meno Mosso
7.   Alla Marcia Funebre
8.   Allegro

The Pines of Rome
9.   The Pines of the Villa Borghese
10. The Pines Near a Catacomb
11. The Pines of the Janiculum
12. The Pines of the Appian Way

Total Time: 62:30



Reference Recordings are distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading