MARIO PILATI: Concerto for Orchestra in C Major; Three Pieces for Orchestra; Suite for Strings and Piano; By the Cradle – Tomas Nemec, piano/Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Adriano – Naxos

by | Sep 10, 2008 | Classical CD Reviews | 0 comments

MARIO PILATI:  Concerto for Orchestra in C Major; Three Pieces for Orchestra; Suite for Strings and Piano; By the Cradle – Tomas Nemec, piano/Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Adriano – Naxos 8.570873, 61:16 *****:

Blessings on Naxos for continuing to bring out such fresh and attractive music which heretofore has been rarely or never heard, and at a minimal cost.  This is part of the large label’s “20th Century Italian Classics” series.  The Neopolitan composer, who lived until 1938, was part of the same generation that produced such mostly tonal composers as Rieti and Rota as well as the avantists Dallapiccola and Scelsi. 

Pilati is lushly tonal, and was drawn to instrumental music of Italy’s past – often writing in a neo-classical style.  He also loved the folk music of his country and those close by.  This is demonstrated in his Concerto for Orchestra of 1931-32, which was premiered at the time by Dmitri Mitropoulos. Probably the composer’s major composition, it is optimistic in tone and full of joy.  The first movement, with its triumphal-sounding theme, is not in the usual sonata-allegro form but is a huge prelude. The center Adagio has a strong neo-classic flavor and the concluding Rondo movement uses a rustic folk theme from the Tyrol region.

The Three Pieces is really a suite of three dance movements: Minuetto, Habanera, and Furlana. It abounds in self-mockery and burlesque qualities that may have been inspired by Ravel’s La Valse. The four movements of the Suite for Strings and Piano are based on dance forms of old such as the sarabande and minuetto.  Pilati’s music is very pleasant listening and it’s a shame he only lived to age 35 because he might have contributed much more to posterity.

 
 – John Sunier
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