Respighi: Ballad Of The Gnomes; Three Botticelli Pictures; S

Geoffrey Simon’s exploration of Respighi’s catalogue has yielded a number of colourful compositions whose neglect hitherto remains something of a mystery. The works recorded on this reissue cover a wide range of moods, from the opulence and excitement for which Respighi was noted in his famous Roman Trilogy, to more reflective pieces inspired by nostalgia for the music of the past. (Signum Classics)