Getting under Martucci's skin

Silvia Pasini accompanied by Gesualdo Coggi on piano bring out the dreamy beauty in two of Martucci's works.

Composer: Martucci
Repertoire: Piano Concerto No.1; La Canzone dei Ricordi
Artists: Gesualdo Coggi (pf), Silvia Pasini (mz), Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma/Vecchia 
Rating:  3/5
Genre: Vocal/Orchestra
Label: Naxos 8.570931

Naxos continues its championing of Martucci by coupling his Piano Concerto No.1 with the only major vocal work from his maturity. The Concerto is the most successful. Coggi plays with sonority, panache and conviction, accompanied by an orchestra which has just as effectively got under the music’s skin. In La Canzone dei Ricordi, Pasini’s vocal tone matches the music’s languorous beauty. However, it sometimes strays into fuggy territory.