ALFREDO CASELLA (1883-1947): Sinfonia (Symphony No. 3), Op. 63, Elegia eroica, Op. 29.

Description: The symphony was recorded by cpo and offered in Sept. 2009 (09L001): a full-scale, four-movement work of almost 45 minutes built entirely on interelated themes which appear in all four movements with the first movement's main theme coming back in the finale. Casella's handling of the large orchestra is consistently magisterial and we are swept along on a tide of attractive themes and colorful instrumentation in a mature style which has synthesized all of the previous Impressionist and Romantic influences of his more youthful works into a compelling, satisfying personal voice. One of those "more youthful works", the Elegia created a storm of protest and indignation when it was performed in Jan. 1917. A lament for the Italian war dead, its dissonance and extremes of expression, articulation and dynamics placed it with the avant-garde of the time (there are several perhaps unconscious references to Stravinsky's Rite also); stunned silence in the middle and a devastated lullaby towards the end prepare for the work's final motif - the song which today is the Italian national anthem. This 16 minutes is worth the price of the disc alone - as is the fascinating note on Casella the enthusiastic but friendly Fascist who didn't start really understanding until Italy got into the war. Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma; Francesco La Vecchia.