Gabrielle Haigh - Songs of Martucci, Elsa Sangiacomo-Respighi, Ottorino Respighi, Rieti and Rimsky-Korsakov (2022)

This album, Il Circolo Respighi, was inspired by my discovery that Ottorino Respighi’s wife, Elsa (née Olivieri-Sangiacomo), was also his pupil and a talented composer herself. This revelation led to the idea of performing a recital featuring art songs composed by Respighi’s most influential teachers, Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Giuseppe Martucci, by his students Vittorio Rieti and Elsa Respighi, and of course several of his own. In reflecting on the years 2020 and 2021, a period of disease, political upheaval and social change, it is interesting to note that the composers on this disc must have felt similar if not greater levels of uncertainty and angst during the tumultuous times in which they lived. This may be the reason so many of the songs here are focused on other times and places, real or imagined ― when times are hard, escapism is powerful.
Tracklist
1. Romansy, Op. 39: The West Fades Into the Distance
2. Tre Pezzi, Op. 84: I. Maggiolata (May Awakens)
3. Tre Pezzi, Op. 84: II. Pianto antico (Ancient Tear
4. Tre Pezzi, Op. 84: III. Nevicata (Snowfall)
5. Deità Silvane: I. I Fauni (The Fauns)
6. Deità Silvane II. Musica in horto (Music in the G
7. Deità Silvane: III. Egle (Aegle)
8. Deità Silvane: IV. Acqua (Water)
9. Deità Silvane: V. Crepuscolo (Twilight)
10. Quattro Liriche Dai Rubaiyat: I. Allegro
11. Quattro Liriche Dai Rubaiyat: II. Lento
12. Quattro Liriche Dai Rubaiyat: III. Andante
13. Quattro Liriche Dai Rubaiyat: IV. Vivace
14. Quatre Poèmes de Max Jacob: I. La Crise (Crisis)
15. Quatre Poèmes de Max Jacob: II. Soir d ’été (Summ
16. Tre Canzoni Spagnole: I. La muerte del payador
17. Tre Canzoni Spagnole: II. Momento
18. Tre Canzoni Spagnole: III. Duermete mi alma
19. Nevicata (Snowfall)
20. Notte (Night)
21. Nebbie (Mist)
22. Pioggia (Rain)
23. Romansy, Op. 56 - Nimfa (The Nymph)