Rota is the sound enchantment, belonging to the adolescence mood, the one that faces life without knowing any rule even though it guesses them. The excellent Albatros Ensemble presents a series of beautiful pieces which don’t enjoy the fame they deserve. And yet an entire chapter of the Western history of music is unfolded in front of us.
In this recording we can highlight the Trio per flauto, violino e pianforte (1958), but we shouldn’t forget the Sonata per violino e pianoforte (1936), an elegy worthy of Gabriel Fauré. The cd is completed by Rotafantasy (2002), that the talented Rocco Abate, a Bruno Bettinelli’s fine pupil, composed as a tribute to Rota.
(Claudio Strinati, Il Venerdì di Repubblica)
A violin, a flute, a harp and a piano are enough to run through the seven chamber compositions – the oldest one dated 1936, the newest 1971 – here included: we appreciate the music written by a fanciful Nino Rota, alien to any ideological involvement. The pieces are never ordinary and always well played. There’s also a recent composition by Rocco Abate, which is inspired by this coloured musical universe.
(Enrico Girardi, Io Donna)
The Albatros Ensemble five young musicians play really well, with an Italian taste. But first of all they capture the measure of the personal world that Rota assigns to these pages: the Trio for flute, violin and piano, the two Sonatas – the former for flute, the latter for violin – are characterized by limpid, simple and rare features, which are typical of the pure divertissement.
(Carla Moreni, Il Sole 24 Ore)
Excluding a couple of pieces for violin and piano – the Sonata and the short Diavolo sentimentale - the cd Improvviso focuses on music for flute, music that is built upon a lively contemporary lexicon pervaded by a Ravelian serenity and taste. The cd turns to an end with the fascinating and attractive Rotafantasy – for flute, violin and piano – composed for the Albatros in 2002 by Rocco Abate: almost a paraphrase of some of the most significant Nino Rota’s film music.
(Giancarlo Cerisola, Classic voice)
Improvviso is a special tribute to Nino Rota, well known all over the world because of his film music and Fellini’s alter-ego in 16 movie productions. Here we have a different tale about Rota: an inner corner of chamber music, a few performers. (…) The Albatros Ensemble: a perfect instrumental balance, magic interaction, classy tone, and a warm and communicative participation. Very well done.
(Diana Leva, Musica e dischi)
This cd, which had a second edition in Italy in less than a month, is a joy from the beginning to the end. And it’s not only because it shows the beauty and the importance of the chamber production of Nino Rota, but also because the Albatros Ensemble performance is lively, brilliant and fascinating. I listened to it five times and each time it sounds newer.
(José Maria Latorre, Cd Compact)
The pieces included in this cd have a familiar air: Rota’s hand is explicit in the pleasing melody and in the lightness coming from the great artistic craftmanship that runs through fashion and trends, but still remains topical and capable of earning such a wide popularity. A perfect and emotional performance by the Albatros Ensemble.
(Barbara Trigari, Insound)
The Albatros Ensemble is young, lively and extrovert, able to stand between a solid and sober education and a continuous spontaneity never lacking tension and authenticity. It’s a nice recovering and publishing operation proposed by Stradivarius, giving the public a travel through the ingenuous, fanciful and falsely inattentive Rota’s world, showing hidden jewels as the Trio for flute, violin and piano, the Sonata for flute and harp, Tre pezzi per due Flauti or the pieces for flute and piano.
(Elide Bergamaschi, Il Cittadino)
The cd itinerary includes the Trio for flute, violin and piano (1958), which is the most mature and dense work. Improvviso “Un diavolo sentimentale” a furious and burning dialogue between violin and piano or Allegro veloce, the real pearl of this collection. Precious choices for this amazing performance that points to the heart of a really emotional chamber music making, played by the Albatros Ensemble with the long breath of someone who knows how to passionately interpret the 20th Century spirit.
(Giuseppe Montemagno, Bellini News)
Improvviso presents important instrumental compositions by Nino Rota (who wrote for music theatre as well), referred to different musical seasons. Albatros Ensemble’s performance is great. Listening to this cd and looking at the years in which the pieces were composed, we realize how much Nino Rota’s path is peculiar. He’s one of the great composers of the 20th Century, who showed us how there’s always something new to say – with brilliance and sensitivity – even using a language belonging to the past.
(Gabriele Formenti, Alta Fedeltà)
Listen and believe. Beyond the Trio, the cd features two 1936 compositions: Sonata per flauto e arpa and Sonata per violino e pianoforte, Improvviso. Un diavolo sentimentale (1968), Allegro veloce per flauto e pianoforte (1971)… Rotafantasy (2002), admirably arranged for flute, violin and piano by Rocco Abate, concludes the collection. Praises to the musicians are really deserved.
(Franco Chieco, ContrAppunti)
A convincing interpretation; flute, violin and piano joyfully warm up listener’s heart … A pleasing release.
(Jean-Baptiste Baronian, Crescendo)
Nino Rota’s music, always neo-classical, elegant and sensitive, is here linked to a well-chosen selection of chamber compositions, performed by the Trio Albatros (flute, piano, violin) and, when it’s needed, strengthened by a harp and a second flute.
(Pablo J. Vayon, Diario de Sevilla)
Quality is everywhere, as much in the youth compositions (the delicious and Prokofiev-like Sonata per flauto e arpa and Sonata per violino e pianoforte) as in the late pieces (Cinque pezzi facili per flauto e piano, the melodramatic Improvviso “Un diavolo sentimentale”, Allegro veloce per flauto e piano or Tre pezzi per due flauti) where the joyful melody sounds above the brilliant contrapunctual chisel and the elegant neo-classical manners,.
(David Rodriguez Cerdan, Diverdi)
It's a honest, clear and poetical music. It comes out from a deep need of expression which is pursued with the accuarcy proper to musicians of solid education. The performers fully respect the style of this music and give a convincing and emotional interpretation, as the listener easily may find.
(Josep Pascual, Scherzo)