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Ottorino Respighi Feste Romane London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Eugene Goossens, Conductor 1 I. Circuses 04:32 2 II. The Jubilee 07:35 3 III. The October Festival 07:30 4 IV. The Epiphany 04:37 RESPIGHI lacking in humor. The orchestra used in Feste Eugene Goossens was born into this environ- feste romana Romane is huge, calling for organ, piano, ment on May 26, 1893, and from the start, bells, mandolin, and a small army of percus- his life was predestined to be devoted to the (ROMAN FESTIVALS) sionists. realm of music. His father was the conductor of the Carl Rosa Company’s orchestra, as was Ottorino Respighi shared with Rachmaninoff Original Liner Notes by DAVID HALL his father before him. He once recalled that a love of melody and a lack of sympathy with between his father and grandfather, every “modernist” tendencies in 20th century important opera in repertoire had been pro- music. He may have lacked Rachmaninoff’s duced. His boyhood days were spent watch- sheer melodic impulse, but he was a superb ing his father rehearse the orchestra. From orchestral colorist (befitting a Rimsky the countless hours devoted to sitting in the Korsakov pupil) and he had a wonderful Sir Eugene Goossens and The empty hall and listening to the rehearsals, way with other people’s melodies, as wit- London Symphony Orchestra Goossens became thoroughly acquainted ness his three lovely suites of Old Airs and with the scores of all the standard operas by Dances and The Birds. Of his purely original ON JUNE 13, 1962, THE BATON OF ONE the time he was ten years old. works, the so-called Roman Cycle – Fountains OF THE GREATEST CONDUCTORS OF of Rome (1916), Pines of Rome (1924), and OUR TIME WAS STILLED FOREVER. At the age of 10, he entered the Bruges Roman Festivals (1928) – remains the best Conservatoire, and at 13, he enrolled in the known and most played of his output. The Sir Eugene Goossens, leading member of Liverpool College of Music. While there, sheer sensual poet is most evident in the ear- England’s Royal Family of Music, passed he was awarded a scholarship to the Royal liest of these pieces, while the “Pines” reveals from the scene, after more than fifty years College of Music where he won numerous something of Respighi’s pre occupation with on the concert stages of the world. With his honors in composition, piano and violin. At Gregorian Chant, Roman Festivals is the most death, a century old tradition was ended. For the Royal College, he studied mainly with “vulgar” of the three – and indeed the sadism the first time in more than a hundred years, Sir Charles Stanford in composition, and the implied in the climax of the opening Circus a Eugene Goossens no longer occupies an violin with Serge Rivarde. Maximus movement, depicting Christians orchestra podium. being torn to pieces by lions in the Rome of Goossens made his first professional appear- the Caesars, would seem more appropriate He was the third in an illustrious line to bear ance in London at the age of 16. He was to the Rome of the unlamented Mussolini. that celebrated name. His father and grand- called at the last minute to substitute in an Jubilee evokes the feelings of footsore pil- father, both named Eugene, were noted con- emergency for one of the second violinists grims at long last reaching their goal of the ductors of their day. His mother, Annie Cook, at Covent Garden. The youngster welcomed Eternal City. It is in The October Fetes that was a famous contralto, and the daughter the rare experience for the orchestra was Respighi the tone poet comes truly into his of the popular basso cantante, T. Aynsley under the baton of the famed Wagnerian own, conjuring up a marvelous vision of the Cook, well known as a member of the Carl interpreter, Hans Richter. At 18, following Roman night with mandolin serenades and Rosa Opera Company. His brother, Leon, is his graduation from the Royal College, he distant hunting horns. La Bejana (“Epiphany acclaimed among the greatest virtuosi of the joined the Queen’s Hall Orchestra as a violin- Eve in Piazza Navona”) can only be appreci- oboe. His twin sisters, Marie and Sidonie, are ist, and remained with that esteemed organi- ated by one who knows Rome and her folk- world renowned harpists. Another brother, zation for four years. ways; for here is the absolute apotheosis of also a distinguished musician, was killed in the modern Roman populace on a gigantic World War I. This was excellent groundwork for one who spree. One can almost smell the scene, and was to emerge among the foremost con- Respighi’s musical treatment is by no means ductors of his time. In addition to his own family environment so steeped in music, the By 1923, a mere seven years after his debut youth was afforded the priceless experience as a conductor, he had become so renowned, of playing under the leading baton masters his fame had reached this country. The of the day, including even the legendary 30 year old conductor was invited to become Nikisch. Later in life, he recalled these for- the permanent conductor of the Rochester mative years as time devoted to the finest Philharmonic. He held that post with dis- training any one could have received. Each tinction until 1931. A pair of guest concerts night, a different symphony was performed. with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra so One can well imagine what a wide range of profoundly moved the audiences there, he orchestral literature was covered within a was appointed its permanent director. He single season. It was, perhaps, during these occupied the Cincinnati podium from 1931 early years in his career that he acquired his to 1947, a period during which the orches- penetrating insight into the full rainbow of tra grew in stature as one of this country’s symphonic repertoire. It may well be that outstanding symphonic organizations. From his characteristic meticulous attention to 1947 to 1956, he served as the resident con- properly shaping each phrase dates back to ductor of the Sydney (Australia) Symphony this vital period when the artist himself was Orchestra. being moulded. He utilized the opportunity of each of these After several years with Beecham, he appointments – as well as in his extensive was signed by the British National Opera tours as a guest conductor – to help cultivate Company where he conducted some 50 dif- his audiences’ taste for the music of the mod- ferent operas. During this period, he was erns. He introduced numerous new works, appointed to conduct the Diaghilev Ballet. and to a great extent, continued to serve as His love for the Russian ballet brought him a disciple of the contemporary composer. In back to London during the summer of 1926 this regard, he remained active to the last. from the U.S. to conduct the Diaghilev season at His Majesty’s Theater. This personal favor- He became ill during a vacation in itism for the music of the ballet masters was Switzerland. On Tuesday, June 12, he was clearly evident in the programs he prepared flown to a hospital in London. Death came during his later years. the following day. Goossens, in 1921, formed his own sym- Original Liner Notes by LEE ZHITO phony orchestra in London, and devoted its concerts to bringing contemporary composi- tions to the fore. Its first performance was so highly successful that he repeated the same program by popular request. His dedication to bringing new works to audiences was a lifelong mission. His programs in this coun- try always revealed that he was a champion of the modern composer. Some notes on the history of Everest …from the original LP release: system, but naturally will be most appreci- Records and the digital remastering ated by the audiophile with the very finest hi-fi “This Everest Recording is a Product of Belock equipment. When EVEREST recordings are When Everest Records was founded by Recording, a division of the Belock Instrument played in the Belock studio through top quality Harry Belock in 1958 as a division of Belock Corp. An EVEREST recording represents a hi-fi equipment similar to that found in home Instrument Corp., the aim was to produce a new peak of achievement in the recording art. use, the resulting sound is indistinguishable catalogue of stereo recordings of the highest As a product of Belock Instrument Corp. this from the master tape. Since Belock Recording possible technical standard, with interesting recording enjoys unique advantages shared unconditionally guarantees that their tapes and and innovative classical repertoire played by by few, if any other record company. The par- stereo disks are genuine stereophonic record- some of the best artists and orchestras. ent company is considered one of the world’s ings, they are designated as CERTIFIED finest precision electronic facilities and is STEREO-MASTER RECORDINGS. The fre- For the first Everest recording sessions in engaged chiefly in the development and pro- quency range of EVEREST recordings is 1958, an Ampex 300-3 half-inch three-chan- duction of ultra-secret military devices. The 20 to 20,000 cycles. It is important to note, nel recorder was used. Later on the label company was one of the earliest involved in that many companies specify wide frequency moved to use a Westrex 35mm 3-track mag- the electronics aspects of ballistic missiles response, and while this is an important part netic film recorder, which had a wider possible and is pre-eminent in the fields of radar, and of hi-fi recording, the distortion content of the dynamic range, less print-through, less tape fire-power computers and stabilization sys- recording is, if anything, even more important.