Malipiero: Impressioni Dal Vero 1-3/ Pause Dal Silenzio 1-2

The goal of every artist, whether he or she is a painter, writer or composer, is to find a means of self-expression which best communicates to the observer, reader or listener. This process is always in flux, sometimes finding an ideal but sometimes never finding the perfect means of expression.

In the case of Alfredo Casella, the style-shifting of Italy's most important 20th Century composer has proved frustrating to both critics and audiences. Casella experimented with Impressionism, Expressionism, Romanticism, and Neo-Classicism, influenced by the likes of Mahler, Busoni, Honegger, and Stravinsky. Perhaps this is the reason Casella is so rarely heard in the concert hall these days, but a recent spate of recordings demonstrates that he is a composer of considerable substance.

My attempts to get a handle on an eccentric composer such as Gian Francesco Malipiero have also been frustrating. A contemporary and friend of Casella, Malipiero is perhaps Italy's most prolific 20th Century composer. The neo-classic violin concerto may be his most well-known work outside of Italy, but it strikes me as bland next to Casella's. Admittedly, I have not listened to the series of Malipiero symphonies released by Naxos (previously on Marco Polo), only because reviews have warned about the sound quality and the poor performances of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.

Now, Francesco La Vecchia with the Sinfonica di Roma seems to be bringing the listener a new perspective on Malipiero, as he has done previously with Martucci and Casella. These recordings are distinguished by the quality of sound and interpretation that has been lacking in some previous releases on other labels. This new release of Malipiero's three sets of Impressioni dal vero (Impressions of Life) and two sets of Pause del silenzio (Breaks in Silence) is a testament to the commitment of this conductor to bring this neglected composer back to prominence.

The first of the two Pause del silenzio is said to be Malipiero's masterpiece. It is a haunting work, and anyone looking for obvious influences from other composers may find this difficult; think of Respighi without themes. The music seems to be a processional, not unlike a hallucinatory journey in a Bunuel film. This is also true of the second set, which to my ears, evinces a tinge of Hindemith. Unfortunately, the engineers have not quite successfully dealt with the brass blasts in these works, producing atypical distortion.

Those listeners who begin with the three Impressioni dal vero may well be deterred from moving on to the formerly mentioned works. They are brief impressions of reality but are not Impressionistic (i.e., Debussy-esque). There are no themes, melodies, or motifs to hang one's hat on. They attempt to "describe" but do not have the cacophony one would find in Charles Ives. The closest composer I can compare is Tviett, and I find his music maddening. These Impressioni will not be amenable to every listener.

However, the Pause del silenzio are well worth hearing. They are visionary and unique, and one hopes that La Vecchia has begun a new series of releases that will bring the music of this composer to a new audience.