Two Words, One Answer.
Giannini
- Giannini + frida (1)
 The Lina Wertmuller Collection (Summer Night / The Nymph / Swept Away / Seven Beauties / Ferdinando and Carolina) $99.98 This order was for a friend of mine who is a big Lina Wertmueller fan., The service was great and was shipped so fast. Could not believe the price! Other sellers like Barnes & Noble were asking $99. This was a great deal for me!  Umberto Giannini Sleek & Chic Shampoo 8.5 oz. $2.99 I sent the shampoo and conditioner back. It is supposed to be taken off my bill. I was not satisfied with the product at all. It was horrible it was supposed to be white conditioner it was yellow.I hope this matter is taken care of for me. Thank You Sincerly Yours, Albert Cocurullo.  Giannini: Piano Concerto; Symphony No. 4 $8.99 I have been listening to classical music for almost 25 years, and I do not recall ever hearing the name of Vittorio Giannini until earlier this year. A local radio station was bold enough to play the Piano Concerto from this CD, and while I was only able to hear the first 10 minutes of the 1st movement, I was amazed enough to rush right out and buy it. While "resurrected masterpiece" might verge on hyperbole, "major discovery" very aptly describes both this concerto and the symphony also included on this disc. Written by a composer who was known mostly for his vocal music (operas/choral works/songs), the Piano Concerto received good reviews on its first New York performance, and was then completely forgotten until this recording. With a stormy opening and much bravura soloing (pianist Gabriela Imreh writes in her notes of "terrifying cascades of arpeggios and breakneck octave passages"), the Rachmaninov/Prokofiev influence is clear without being too derivative. The orchestra's supporting role reminds one of the Chopin concerti: the seams of construction are showing, and one waits in vain for a big "hummable" theme. In spite of these shortcomings and its 41:12 length however, this concerto never drags and interest is always sustained. The quiet opening theme of the slow movement is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, beginning with the soloist, then given to the flute, the horn, and an oboe/cello duet. This is the most "American"-sounding movement: the string themes evoking the wide open spaces with a slow build-up to a climax, then receding to a peaceful close. The triumphant closing movement is the most "modern"-sounding, with a scherzoso section, a fugato in the strings, and much passagework for the brass and woodwinds. Imreh spent 9 months learning this lost concerto, and her jaw-dropping performance is worth every minute. The concise (23:22 - only 3 movements) but not simple Symphony #4 comes from 23 years later, and the growth and maturation of the composer are immediately apparent. What does it sound like? Again, without being too derivative, there are reminders of Vaughan-Williams, Stravinsky, Hanson, Nielsen, and even Bruckner. This is a powerful symphony, with a vigorous neo-classical opening, sharp contrasts, brilliant brass, and big string themes. Make no mistake, the orchestral melodies are much stronger than in the Piano Concerto. The tranquil slow movement has an almost chamber-esque coda with a violin solo, and the scherzo-finale becomes a "concerto for orchestra", even including a brief solo for the tympani. Whether either of these works will ever push aside the warhorses and reach the concert platform is another story entirely, but this wonderful recording is the first step in the right direction. This is precisely the kind of music that most audiences love and wonder, "Why haven't I heard this before?" Thank you Naxos, Gabriela Imreh, Daniel Spalding, and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for taking a risk, investing their time, and unearthing these pieces so everyone can hear them for themselves. One of the joys of listening to classical music is finding out that just when you think you've heard it all, you discover you really haven't. This disc definitely fits that qualification and while the music is neither "perfect" nor the "greatest" you'll ever hear, it's still highly recommended. |
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