Respighi 'Epiphany' - Roman Festivals (Part 4) - Petrenko conducts

The finale of "Roman Festivals" finds Respighi at his most roof-raising, with an enormous percussion-laden orchestra, bells, piano, extra brass, organ and all. Indeed, after he'd completed this work he said he felt he could achieve nothing further with such mammoth forces. The music depicts the night before Epiphany in the Piazza Navona: "A characteristic rhythm of trumpets dominates the frantic clamour. Above the swelling noise float, from time to time, rustic themes, saltarello cadenzas, the strains of a barrel-organ in a side-show, the appeals of an auctioneer, the raucous song of the intoxicated and the lively stornello in which is expressed the popular feeling: 'We are Romans, let us pass!'" Vasily Petrenko conducts the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain at the 2009 Proms in what was its first performance at those celebrated annual summer concerts.
NOTE: This performance has also been uploaded here in its complete form, as per this link ...
• Respighi 'Roman Festiv...

[@donaldbarrett4454]

Just sensational - that nobody has ever licensed this music for a movie soundtrack is astounding...

[@AndrewRudin]

So touching to see all these lovely young people so enthusiastic about their really expert performance of this challenging work. As long as such as these find accomplishment and enjoyment in such endeavors, Classical music is not going to die out.

[@stevennaylor3900]

WOW... this is certainly the fastest performance of this I have ever heard. I just got the score to it today, and was listening to this and reading through it. IF YOU'RE PERFORMING THIS, YOU CANNOT USE A SCORE!!!!! YOU'LL BE TURNING PAGES EVERY FIVE SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!

[@sneddypie]

bernstein intensifies

[@sjnugee]

This is honestly one of the best performances of anything ever. Energy, excitement, and enjoyment - this is up there with Dudamel and SBYO, easily.

[@musicencyclopedia]

I love the smiling faces of these kids playing such a hell of a difficult composition! Bravo! Bravissimo!!!

[@indaco87]

Bravissimi bravissimi bravissimi!!!!!!!! Incredibili!!!!

[@danielmckinley2753]

Wonderful’

[@jgesselberty]

I've always thought that the ending of this piece should give the feeling of running down a hill and being unable to stop. If you do you will simply tumble and fall.

[@coldstream07]

Brilliant! Thank you very much for sharing with us this fantastic performance.

[@jgesselberty]

The final pages should have that feeling of running down a steep hill and realizing that if you try to stop you will tumble. He captures that perfectly. Reminds me of how Bernstein treated this delightful piece.

[@keywest5184]

Phenomenal!!!

[@cbi1991]

i am familiar with this piece. i have an old recording of eugene ormandy and the philadelphia orchestra. this performance is incredible! how do they manage to keep it all together!

[@ruskor87]

Bravi! bellissimo

[@ChrisHaas1]

Incredible!!!

[@josj0706]

Star of Indiana anybody

[@Dedroidexsec]

ong

[@gm_construct_13_betaexplor38]

finally someone gets it!!!

[@petrusasemicorma9290]

Bravissimi w l italia

[@claude1918]

One of the most astounding orchestral acrobatics in the entire repertoire. Also a bit disjointed composition made of short tunes and lots of modulations and tempo changes. Therefore, the final movement of the Pines of Rome is more effective in its epic growth...

[@Mezzotenor]

A fair assessment musically, but don't forget that in this finale Respighi sought to reflect contemporary life in Rome on the night of its most raucous merrymaking. Those of us with Italian blood find the deliberately chaotic element spot-on. :-)

[@kappaklass]

I think it gets away from them a little. Alot of the articulations are not fully heard....It's my opinion the essence of the piece is lost because the piece is played too fast for this ensemble......

[@lednew2010]

I agree. I like "fast" as in the Muti recording, but when there's nothing but fast and faster, much gets lost, and a sort of numbness ensues.(...and I 've never seen a drunken person move as fast as the trombone was required to do.) Bravo's to the musicians who certainly gave their all.

[@thehowtoguys9803]

Is there a piano version of this?

[@dianoites]

Fellini gone berserk

[@Zzyzzyzzs]

Whistling this while walking to work will give you a headache, I assure you.

[@EVGENIVSC]

The cameraman's having a hard time.

[@andreaguarino8207]

It's too fast