Respighi: Ancient Airs & Dances

With his three suites Antiche Danze ed Arie, Ottorino Respighi brought the soundscape of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods back to life. Drawing on lute music from the 16th and 17th centuries, he created finely orchestrated works of exceptional elegance and transparency, regarded as a deliberate counterpoint to the massive soundscapes of the late Romantic period.

Composed between 1920 and 1932, the suites combine historical charm with Respighi’s masterful art of orchestration. The result is timeless music that remains among the Italian composer’s most popular works to this day.

For the first time, this recording has been remastered and cut from the original 1-inch 8-track tapes.