ALFREDO CASELLA (1883-1947): Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 12, Scarlattiana for Piano and Small Orchestra, Op. 44.

Description: Coming right after the above symphony (1908-10), this second effort is another sprawling work, this time in five movements, of just over 49 minutes. Extravagantly complex textures, passion driven into frenzy and a dark feeling, full of forboding, activate the big first movement while the Russian influences which exist throughout the first symphony are here most evident in the colorful, driven scherzo. The other main influence here, and a Casella obsession at this time, was Mahler and these come to the fore (after a gloomy slow movement) in the march-like finale, itself followed by a consolatory, mystical Epilog. Martin Roscoe (piano), BBC Philharmonic; Gianandrea Noseda.