Why are the new Respighi editions even necessary?

I thought I'd write a few words regarding a recent question which was forwarded to me - and, I admit, it's a good one. Why are the new Respighi editions even necessary?

The question refers to a recent blog, where I wrote:
"In 2008, I published an homage to Ottorino Respighi called Overtura Respighiana with [publisher] Panastudio. In 2009, I published my completion of Respighi's first Violin Concerto in A Major, an invitation I had received by the leading Respighi family affiliates. And that publication was followed by my editions of Respighi's Aria for strings, and Suite for strings in 2010."

Until 2009, printed editions (meaning professional computer-generated score and parts) of many Respighi early works including the Aria, the Suite, and then incomplete Violin Concerto in A Major did not exist in publication. Only the autograph manuscripts of the Aria and Suite scores were preserved in various Respighi archives in Italy (and with certain older publishers, but never a printed edition!)

For this reason, Respighi's great nieces and archive cataloger/curator Potito Pedarra recommended that we begin the work of editing these and other early Respighi works for publication, premieres and recordings with the Chamber Orchestra of New York "Ottorino Respighi", and performances with other orchestras worldwide.

Much of the credit then goes to publisher Franceso Panasci and Edizioni Panastudio (Palermo) for their entrepreneurial vision and courage in establishing the Ottorino Respighi Publications series, thus recognizing the shared efforts of our Orchestra and the Respighi affiliates, supporting the historical significance of Respighi's early works.

The Suite was only edited for publication. The published score indicates "revisata" which in the Italian publishing world means "edited" not necessarily revised, as has been mistakenly used in its place.

The Aria was slightly transcribed, to be precise in two particular areas, only to allow the work suitable for (not just string orchestra but) string quintet in academic situations - an initiative in itself to promote the work to young musicians in music conservatories.

The Violin Concerto in A Major was left unfinished by Respighi, with the third movement in piano reduction (including solo violin part), and a handful of measures orchestrated. I was given the task of enhancing the orchestration (editing, cleaning up, confirming and at times adding doublings etc) in the first two movements and then completing the third movement following Respighi's aesthetic, and his vision of a rondo finale.

I hope this answers the question presented. We all look forward to the next set of printed scores in the Ottorino Respighi Publications series.

Salvatore Di Vittorio
Music Director, Chamber Orchestra of NY

Ottorino Respighi Publications
Panastudio

Respighi CD Continues on Gramophone Chart!

Still going strong! Our debut Naxos, Respighi CD is on the Gramophone Top 20 Classical Chart, for five consecutive weeks! Ranked 15th during the week of July 2nd! 

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/chart

Ongoing reviews, available on Discography page:

http://www.chamberorchestraofnewyork.org/discography.html

Happy Birthday Ottorino Respighi! Born July 9, 1879

Chamber Orchestra of New York "Ottorino Respighi" celebrates Respighi's July 9th birth anniversary with the release of its first two Naxos albums. Visit our Discography page for more information:

http://www.chamberorchestraofnewyork.org/discography.html

Rare Gems from Respighi - WQXR

WQXR Names our Naxos Debut Respighi CD as Album of the Week! Click on link to see full article, and stay tuned to WQXR Classical Radio 105.9FM.

Rare Gems from Respighi; Personal Works by Lieberson and Theofanidis - WQXR

Critic's Review of our Debut Naxos Respighi CD: MusicWeb International

Read the first critic's review of the Chamber Orchestra's Debut Naxos Respighi CD, which features Respighi's rediscovered early works including the First Violin Concerto, Aria, Suite for strings, and his later well-known Rossiniana.

The article is written by critic Ian Lace on MusicWeb-International.
Visit: http://musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/June11/Respighi_vc_8572332.htm

Debut CD Ranks 10th on Gramophone Top 20 Classical Chart!

We are happy to announce that our Debut CD on Naxos "Respighi, Violin Concerto" has been ranked 10th on the Gramophone Top 20 Classical Chart! Visit the Gramophone website for the full listing. It has made the Gramophone Top 20 Classical Chart in its first two weeks of release.
http://t.co/D4Y9Pzi

Naxos Records Releases Orchestra's Debut CD!

The Chamber Orchestra of New York announces the release of its Debut CD on Naxos Records!

Naxos, 8.572332 

Ottorino Respighi, Violin Concerto (in A Major)/Aria/Suite for strings/Rossiniana
 

About this recording: Ottorino Respighi’s rediscovered First Violin Concerto of 1903, completed by Salvatore Di Vittorio in 2009, harks back to the concerto writing of Vivaldi and Mendelssohn and foreshadows Respighi’s later masterwork such as Pines of Rome. The elegant Aria and lyrical Suite for strings reveal Respighi’s love of Baroque music, the latter an homage to Edvard Grieg’s Holberg Suite. Rossinana is an exquisite reworking of Gioacchino Rossini’s late piano pieces, Les riens (Trifles). 

Featured Artist: Laura Marzadori, violin. 

Salvatore Di Vittorio has been named Naxos Artist of the Week!

Visit our Discography page for more information:

http://www.chamberorchestraofnewyork.org/discography.html

Purchase on Naxos, Amazon or iTunes!

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and your name will appear in the season programs!