Respighi: The Sunset / String Quartet in D Minor / Quartetto Dorico
8/1/2007, 6 Tracks, 1:08:06
Featuring
Stella Doufexis
Georgios Demertzis
Dimitris Chandrakis
Chara Sira
Apostolos Chandrakis
New Hellenic Quartet
Ottorino Respighi
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Composition History
Respighi's 'Quartetto dorico' (Dorian Quartet) marks a significant shift in his compositional style, influenced by his wife Elsa Olivieri-Sangiacomo and his discovery of modal music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Respighi, known for creating vivid musical images, was described as an 'avid observer' with the technique to transform visual impressions into music, much like a colorist painter.
Compositional Technique
The 'Quartetto dorico' is a lengthy, uninterrupted one-movement work, 388 bars long, that uses a monothematic development to create a sense of 'thematic integrity' and 'sober passion'.
Historical Context
Respighi's music is sometimes viewed with prejudice due to Benito Mussolini's admiration for his 'Roman trilogy', leading to ongoing debate about the composer's relationship with the dictator.
Critical Reception
Respighi's symphonic poems like 'The Fountains of Rome' and 'The Pines of Rome' achieved immense success, overshadowing his other works and making him famous in Europe and America.
Composer Biography
Ottorino Respighi, the composer, was an accomplished viola and violin player, performing in the Mugellini Quartet and the Imperial Opera orchestra while studying in Russia.
Performer Biography
The New Hellenic Quartet, founded in 1991, is considered Greece's foremost chamber ensemble and has performed at major international festivals across Europe, North and South America, and Asia.
