# Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)

> Ottorino Respighi, composer – 4 recordings on Ondine. The Italian composer Ottorino Respighi studied music in his native Bologna and later, briefly, with…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/composers/respighi-ottorino

- **Role:** Composer
- **Dates:** 1879-1936
- **Photo:** © Respighi Archive / Coll. Adriano

## Biography

The Italian composer Ottorino Respighi studied music in his native Bologna and later, briefly, with Rimsky-Korsakov in St Petersburg. A viola player and pianist as well as a composer, he settled in Rome in 1913, earning a reputation also for his interest in early music and for his work as a teacher.

Respighi is chiefly known for his vivid symphonic poems, in particular Fontane di Roma (‘Fountains of Rome’), Pini di Roma (‘Pines of Rome’) and Feste romane (‘Roman Festivals’), the last even more a celebration of the revived spirit of nationalism in the Italy of his time. Concertos for violin and for piano occupy a lesser position in general repertoire. Other orchestral compositions include Trittico botticelliano (‘Triptych after Botticelli’) and music from his opera Belfagor.

Respighi’s La Boutique fantasque, based on Rossini, is well known to ballet audiences. Other orchestral arrangements include Antiche danze ed arie per liuto (‘Ancient Dances and Airs for Lute’) and Gli uccelli (‘The Birds’), based on compositions by Rameau, Pasquini and others.

## Works

- Concerto in modo misolidio, per pianoforte e orchestra (1925)
- War Dance
- Fontane di Roma, poema sinfonico (1916)

## Discography on Ondine (4)

- [Ottorino Respighi: Sinfonia Drammatica](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1477-2.md): Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI · Robert Trevino (ODE 1477-2, 2026)
- [Ottorino Respighi: Roman Trilogy · Pines of Rome · Fountains of Rome · Festivals of Rome](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1425-2.md): Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI · Robert Trevino (ODE 1425-2, 2023)
- [Earquake: The Loudest Classical Music of All Time · Various composers · Re-issue, originally released in 1997](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1210-2.md): Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Leif Segerstam (ODE 1210-2, 2017)
- [Ottorino Respighi: Concerto in modo misolidio · Fontane di Roma](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1165-2.md): Olli Mustonen, piano · Finnish RSO · Sakari Oramo, conductor (ODE 1165-2, 2010)

## Links

- [Official Website](http://www.ottorinorespighi.it/)
- [Respighi Foundation](http://www.musicweb-international.com/respighi/)