The Italian Intermezzo: Music Without Words

BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda

Verdi (1813-1901): Prelude to Act III of 'La traviata' / Leoncavallo (1857-1919): Intermezzo from 'Pagliacci' / Puccini (1858-1924): Preludes to Acts I and III of 'Edgar'; Intermezzo from 'Suor Angelica'; Intermezzo from 'Manon Lescaut' / Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948): Intermezzo from 'I quattro rusteghi'; Intermezzo from 'I gioielli della Madonna' / Mascagni (1863-1945): Intermezzo from 'L'amico Fritz' / Ponchielli (1834-1886): Dance of the Hours from 'La gioconda' / Cilea (1866-1950): Intermezzo from 'Adriana Lecouvreur' / Giordano (1867-1948): Prelude to 'Siberia'; Intermezzo from Act II of 'Fedora' / Catalani (1854-1893): Intermezzi from Acts III and IV of 'La Wally'; Dance of theWater Nymphs from 'Loreley'

The intermezzi recorded on this CD are, in the main, orchestral mood-painting interludes found in the great Italian operatic repertoire of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, usually connecting acts in the opera. The music is powerfully atmospheric, designed not only to create the right mood for the ensuing action of the opera, but also to provide some respite from the drama itself. The exception is Ponchielli's famous ballet 'Dance of the Hours' from La gioconda, which, like most ballets found in operas, represents a break from the drama by allowing the audience to enjoy an entertaining dance sequence whilst, in this case, listening to some of the catchiest music in all opera. Indeed, this scintillating ballet was immortalised in Walt Disney's film Fantasia and has long been one of the classics of the repertoire.
The rest of the items on this CD range from the well-known and haunting Prelude to Act III of La traviata to the sparkling items from Wolf-Ferrari's I gioielli della Madonna (The Jewels of the Madonna) and I quattro rusteghi. The great verismo composers Leoncavallo, Puccini, Giordano, and Cilea composed some richly romantic intermezzi, and the rarely heard pieces by Catalani are no less enjoyable.
The Italian maestro Gianandrea Noseda is in his element in this native repertoire. He has made many noted recordings with the BBC Philharmonic for Chandos, praised for their brilliance of sound as well as their musical excellence. On this release his superb musicianship in both the operatic and orchestral repertoire produces one of his very finest recordings. The programme is unique.

Price: $25.98