The first two volumes devoted to late Romantic Italian composer Giuseppe Martucci's orchestral works, with
Francesco La Vecchia and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma, were roughly aesthetically equal to the earlier digital series of the works with
Francesco d'Avalos and the
Philharmonia.
La Vecchia's third volume, though, is far superior to
d'Avalos' version of the same pieces, the Piano Concerto No. 1, and La canzone dei ricordi for voice and orchestra, for the simple reason that the soloists are better. Here pianist Gesualdo Coggi has brilliant tone, a virtuoso technique, and a vivacious feel for rhythm, all things
d'Avalos' soloist
Francesco Caramiello lacked, and Coggi's sunny interpretation is much better suited to Martucci's Mendelssohnian concerto than
Caramiello's more dourly Brahmsian reading. In La canzone dei ricordi, the race is tighter, with mezzo-soprano Silvia Pasini's richer tone and more dramatic interpretation slightly ahead of soprano Rachel Yakar's more focused tone and more lyrical account. Clearly in front are
La Vecchia and the Rome orchestra, which turns in more graciously genial accompaniment for Coggi and Pasini than
d'Avalos and the
Philharmonia do with a heavier, more Germanic accompaniment. Naxos' digital sound is clear, crisp, and colorful, though slightly recessed.