Hannah Schendel, Music Director
September 15, 2024

If you’ve ever dreamt of taking a trip to Italy, this concert is for you! Experience the rich history of Italian opera through the dramatic overture of Verdi’s Luisa Miller and discover the charming Baroque Oboe Concerto in G Major by Besozzi. Respighi’s evocative Trittico Botticelliano and Fontane di Roma paint vivid musical portraits of art and important landmarks. We will explore three paintings by renowned Italian Renaissance artist, Sandro Botticelli and take a walking tour through Rome to view four famous fountains. Each of these pieces showcases the incredible diversity and breadth of Italian classical music.

Join us on October 6, 2024 at 3:00 pm at Hopkins High School for this free performance with guest artist Cassie Pilgrim, Principal Oboe, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. You can find full event details here.

Here’s a bit more about this exciting performance:

Giuseppe Verdi’s Overture to Luisa Miller
An eminent composer in 19th-century opera, Giuseppe Verdi is known for his unique ability to weave rich orchestral textures into expressive vocal lines. His 1849 opera Luisa Miller stands as a testament to his early talent. The overture to Luisa Miller sets a dramatic tone for the opera, which is filled with intrigue and heart-wrench.

The plot is filled with numerous twists and turns, culminating in a tragic scene reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, where the characters Luisa and Rodolfo take poison in the name of their doomed love. Verdi’s overture captures the intensity of the narrative, hinting at the complex emotions and dramatic twists that lie ahead.

Alessandro Besozzi’s Oboe Concerto in G Major
Born in Parma, Italy in 1702, relatively little is known about Alessandro Besozzi’s life, career, and compositional output. Historians confirm that he trained and worked as both an oboist and composer, serving the King of Sardinia for much of his career. Alessandro lived and performed alongside his brother Paolo Girolamo, a bassoonist, sharing both their musical pursuits and sartorial choices throughout their lives. Six oboe concerti are attributed to Besozzi, though their exact dates are not certain.

This concerto, consisting of three movements, showcases the oboe’s expressive range and technical capabilities. Besozzi’s music is both lyrical and intricate, and is an elegant interplay of melody and ornamentation, reflecting the playful yet ornate nature of the Baroque period.

Thank you to Midwest Musical Imports for sponsoring Cassie Pilgrim’s performance!

Ottorino Respighi’s Trittico Botticelliano (Three Botticelli Pictures)
Next, we encounter Ottorino Respighi’s Trittico Botticelliano, a suite of early 20th century orchestral works inspired by paintings of Sandro Botticelli which are currently housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

La Primavera (The Allegory of Spring)

From left to right: Mercury, the three Graces, Venus, Flora(s), Zephyr. The music vividly portrays the joyful, floral, and sometimes breezy essence of springtime.

L’adorazione dei Magi (The Adoration of the Magi)

At the center of the painting is the nativity scene set amidst Roman ruins. The Three Magi and notable figures from Florence observe the scene. This is musically represented through the medieval hymn “Veni, veni, Emmanuel” (Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel) and through the sparkling colors that evoke the magi.

La nascita di Venere (The Birth of Venus)

From left to right: Zephyr, Aura, Venus, Hour of Spring. The strings mimic the ocean waves and the scalloping of the seashell that carries Venus to the coast of Cyprus. The music captures the grandeur of the moment and the expansive landscape.

Ottorino Respighi’s Fontane di Roma (Fountains of Rome)
Respighi’s Fontane di Roma continues our exploration of his evocative musical imagery. Each movement of Fontane is an artistic impression of four fountains located throughout Rome.

La fontana di Valle Giulia all’alba (The Fountain of Valle Giulia at Dawn)

The music evokes a pastoral scene where cattle and sheep quietly pass by the fountain during the humid hours of Roman dawn.

La fontana del Tritone al mattino (The Triton Fountain in the Morning)

Heroic horn calls (conch shells) and shimmering cymbal sprays capture the joyous and wild celebration of tritons and naiads depicted in this famous Bernini masterwork.

La fontana di Trevi al meriggio (The Trevi Fountain at Midday)

One of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, the Trevi Fountain is represented by a

solemn procession of tritons and naiads, accompanied by a trumpet herald announcing Neptune’s majestic chariot drawn by sea horses.

La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto (The Villa Medici Fountain at Sunset)

This final movement portrays the fountain bathed in the nostalgic, fading light of dusk. A mournful melody intertwines with distant church bells and softly chirping birds until everything fades into nightfall.

From Verdi’s emotionally charged overture, Besozzi’s Baroque charm, and to Respighi’s evocative musical depictions, these works offer a rich overview of Italian classical music that spans centuries and styles. Each piece not only reflects the unique voice of its composer but also immerses us in a world of artistic expression and historical context. Whether you’re a seasoned music lover or new to classical music, these masterpieces are sure to leave a lasting impression!