This is a major release. Alfredo Casella’s Sinfonia is actually his Third Symphony. It was written in 1939-40 for the Chicago Symphony, enjoyed a highly successful premiere, then vanished along with the composer’s reputation in the political fallout following World War II. Like so many Italian composers of his generation, Casella was sympathetic to Mussolini’s government, which went out of its way to patronize (and co-opt) the arts. It wasn’t exactly the kind of thing that Hitler was doing in Germany, but it was close enough. Still, it didn’t seem to hurt Respighi–but then he had Toscanini on his side and the good fortune to die in 1936, whereas Casella made it until 1947.
Be that as it may, Casella was a finer composer than Respighi, by and large, and certainly a more interesting one. His Sinfonia is a magnificent work lasting some three-quarters of an hour. Although it employs traditional forms, it doesn’t sound even remotely like anyone else, particularly in regard to its melodic idiom which is at once modern/tonal but remarkably personal. Brilliantly scored, atmospheric, and finely wrought, it should be at least as popular as, say, Shostakovich of the same period, and it’s easily the finest 20th century symphony by an Italian composer. This performance does it full justice, being very well played and naturally recorded. Conductor Alun Francis deserves a great deal of credit for delivering such a convincing performance of a complex, unfamiliar work that hopefully will make its way back into the repertoire.
Italia dates from the start of Casella’s career–1909–at the time of his great infatuation with Mahler. As you might expect, it’s a big, bold, super-emotional piece with an unusual amount of tragic sentiment mixed in with the usual Italian high spirits (you know, Faniculi Fanicula and all that). Again, it’s excitingly played, and makes an excellent disc-mate for the larger symphony. Honestly, this is major music by a composer who deserves to be far better known. Do get to know it. [7/9/2009]
