TRITTICO BOTTICELLIANO, P. 151 OTTORINO RESPIGHI
Born July 9, 1879 in Bologna, Italy Died April 18, 1936 in Rome, Italy INSTRUMENTATION Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, percussion, harp, celesta, piano and strings PERFORMANCE TIME 18 minutes LAST PERFORMED BY THE TSO Never performed by the TSO PREMIERED October 1927 in Vienna Trittico Botticelliano, or the Botticelli Triptych, was inspired by three paintings by Florentine painter Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510). All three paintings are now in the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence. Respighi was motivated to compose this set of works by an American patron, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. La Primavera (Spring) sets a scene that includes shepherds, nymphs, goddesses, and at least 130 varieties of plants and flowers. Spring is depicted with shimmering bird calls, the blowing of the wind, and a country dance. L’adorazione dei Magi (The Adoration of the Magi), painted around 1476, is a typical theme of the Renaissance, particularly in Florence. It shows the Magi, as kings, at the feet of the baby Jesus, presenting him with gifts.
8 TSO
Respighi uses the melody of ”Veni, Veni Emmanuel,” composed as early as the 12th century as one melody for this movement. (This melody is familiar to Christians of many denominations as ”O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” widely sung during Advent.) The movement opens as a sicilienne based on the Italian tune “O Bambino.” The final movement is La nascita de Venere (“The Birth of Venus”), painted in 1486, which depicts the goddess Venus emerging fully grown from the sea. Respighi uses the strings to depict the rolling waves of the ocean. As Venus grows closer to the shore, the fragments of a melody grow in a crescendo before fading away entirely. Rebecca Cain
TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
84th Season