OTTORINO RESPIGHI (1879-1936): Suite in G for Strings and Organ (Leslie Pearson [organ], Adagio with Variations for Cello and Orchestra (Alexander Baillie [cello]), 3 Botticelli Pictures, Ballad of the Gnomes.

Description: The neo-baroque suite, right up Respighi's historical alley, with its archaic form and sumptuously romantic writing, is not otherwise available (a previous Koch International Classics recording from 13 years ago now out of print). The lurid Ballad of 1920 is somewhat rare, although not as rare as the note-writer (who should get out more since his claim for first recording of Ballad is belied by the already existing Chandos and Reference Recordings versions) suggests, and its depiction of the sexual torture and murder of a male gnome by two female gnomes is depicted in film-score-like music which Bernard Herrmann might have envied (an English translation of the poem which inspired the work makes all the difference to your listening pleasure). Philharmonia Orchestra; Geoffrey Simon. SACD hybrid disc.