Aria per archi

Aria per archi

Composed: 1901/2010 [Respighi – Revised by Di Vittorio]
Published: 2010, Panastudio/Casa Ricordi (Universal Music)
Orchestra: v1, v2, vla, vce, cb
Duration: 6 min.

World Premiere:
Unknown

Recordings:
2011, Respighi Discoveries, Naxos
For other premieres of this work, visit:Performances

U.S. Premiere:
22 May 2010
Chamber Orchestra of New York; S. Di Vittorio, conductor
Church of St. Jean Baptiste, New York

Commissioned by the Respighi Family and Archive
Respighi’s great nieces Elsa Pizzoli Mazzacane & Gloria Pizzoli Mangini, and archive curator/cataloger Potito Pedarra, for the Chamber Orchestra of New York.
Program Notes/Il Programma
Respighi’s Aria per archi dates to 1901, a one movement work.
The Aria was also included as one of the movements of Respighi’s Suite in Sol Maggiore (for organ and strings) of 1905 and Suite No. 2 for flute and strings of 1906.

This beautiful Aria clearly shows Respighi’s affection for the music and composers of the Baroque, especially Vivaldi, Corelli and Frescobaldi. The work is a towering lyrical statement by the young Respighi, who was only at the threshold of what would become a prolific output of 180 works, over 36 transcriptions and several dozen unpublished and unfinished works.

Di Vittorio has recently transcribed the Aria for publication, making the work accessible for not only string orchestra but string quintet, so that it may be performed more regularly at music conservatories and schools worldwide.