
"Notte Tropicale" ("Tropical Night") is a warm and sensuous tribute to the Latin sounds of Brazil which Respighi loved upon first listen (he, reportedly, called this a 'musical souvenir'). In 1927 Respighi (and his wife, Elsa) visited Brazil to perform - Elsa was a former pupil of Respighi's, a singer who performed with Respighi, a mezzo-soprano (also a composer) - and to conduct several of his compositions. During this trip, he was struck by the folk-music of the country. He promised to provide the Rio Philharmonic with a "Brazillian Suite" based upon the rhythms and folk-songs of Brazillian culture. He delivered upon his promise with three pieces, now known as "Impressioni Brasiliane" ("Brazillian Impressions"). The first piece is "Notte Tropicale" ("Tropical Night"), a warm and sensuous tribute to the Latin sounds he'd loved upon first listen (he, reportedly, called this a 'musical souvenir'). The second piece, "Butantan", is based upon a reptile research center, the Butantan Institute, which Respighi visited during his time in Brazil and where, obviously, he had a profound experience (one of the functions of the Institue was the raising of poisonous snakes for the production of serum), hence the sound of the piece. It would seem that, based upon the feel of the piece and Respighi's inclusion of the theme of "Dies irae" from the "Mass for the Dead", he was terrified of snakes. Finally, the third piece, "Canzone e Danza" ("Song and Dance") is a fitting tribute to the <b>...</b>
Ottorino
Respighi
Tropical
Night
Notte
Tropicale
Brazillian
Impressions
Suite
Impressioni
Brasiliane
Nocturne
Rio
Philharmonic
Tone
Poem
Symphonic
Orchestral
Cincinnati
Symphony
Orchestra
Jesus
Lopez-Cobos
Classical
Music
Italy
Italian
Composer
Brazil
South
America