Concertos (2002)

'Interest in Nino Rota's concert music continues to accelerate. The composer's unwillingness to emulate the musical experimentation rife in the mid-twentieth century made it more difficult for him to be taken seriously in academic circles, a malady that is rapidly fading. (Rota, of course, was most famous for his film scores, notably for the films of Federico Fellini, including La Strada and La Dolce Vita.) This CD contains three première recordings. These works were written over a period of three decades; the Harp Concerto dates from 1947, and the Bassoon Concerto was completed in 1977, two years before Rota's death. From earliest to latest, they show little stylistic evolution, but Rota was one of those composers who knew who he was early on, and he remained comfortable with his identity throughout his career. His music's characteristics include sanity, charm, conservatism, humor, and a dedication to leaving the listener with a good taste in his ears'. (Raymond Tuttle, Classical Net Review).