Paolino Vassallo - Malta Overture (1898)

Paolino Vassallo (Cospicua, 1856 - Valletta, 1923)
Malta, Concert Overture (1898)
Played by the National Orchestra of Malta, conducted by Christopher Muscat

[@borisbrinkmann]

Was für ein schönes, gediegen gemachtes Stück! Nicht unbedingt besonders modern - es könnte gut 20-30 Jahre älter sein - , aber mit so viel gutem, klassischem Handwerk und ein nobler schumannesker Ton! Und überhaupt die deutsche Linie Berlioz-Liszt-Wagner. Die Triangel wäre verzichtbar gewesen, ohne Becken wär's eine Schumann-Ouvertüre.

[@bomcabedal]

Italian more than German though, I think.

[@borisbrinkmann]

@@bomcabedal Italian music in that time was almost only operatic. Any composer who composed pure instrumental music or music in a rather sophisticated contrapunctic setting was insulted "tedesco" (German). This piece even begins with a fugue, the whole polyphonic setting is for sure north-alpine...

[@bomcabedal]

@@borisbrinkmann It's not an Italian composer, though. The Maltese music scene at the time was predominantly Italianate and sacral, as is most of Vassallo's oeuvre. And while there may be German influences, one feels Rossini as well. The fact that Italian music focused on opera did not mean there could be no crossover to other genres. And in fact, there were some Italian symphonists, most prominently Martucci (who was influenced by Brahms) and Sgambati. It was a far more diverse musical world than people realize.

[@fulviopolce9785]

Io invece vi trovo del carattere molto mediterraneo in questa composizione molto personale , non necessariamente di ispirazione nord alpina.... Grazie per questo interessante proposta musicale.