NINO ROTA (1911-1979): Symphonies No. 1 in G and No. 2 in F.

Description: Composed over a period of four years from 1935-39, the first symphony is Rota's first adult work. Its clarity of sound and stringency of form recall Casella and its melodies are brightly colored and distinctly Italian; utterly peaceful, it is impervious to the world-shaking events going on at the time of its composition - a signpost to the path Rota would pursue throughout his career. The Second (1937-41, rev. 1975), bears a subtitle referring to the composer's working sojourn in Taranto where the utter isolation from outside musical influences allowed him to develop further his personal style. There is much of Rota the film composer in this work (he had spent a year at the Curtis Institute in the early 30s where he heard the first talkie-soundtracks). Simple, conservative and full of rich melody, the second symphony also demonstrates Rota's life-long attachment to musical models of the 19th and earlier centuries. First recording of these works since BIS' released almost 11 years ago in 1998. Filarmonica '900 del Teatro Regio di Torino; Marzio Conti.