Nino Rota’s Piano Concerto in E minor was composed in 1960 – at the same time as his music for Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita. As if in answer to the extreme cynicism of that and much of his other film music, the concerto seems to be a questioning exploration of the remaining possibilities in a modern, romantic form. Does music have to have the flavour of its particular era? Hearing this for the first time, I don’t think anyone would immediately associate it with the 1960s. The opening Allegro-tranquillo movement begins with a dreamlike theme on the piano which is then taken up by the orchestra and developed as a sort of conversation – the orchestra insisting on a heroic, almost martial sound, while the piano and woodwind reiterate the original soft mood.
The first movement is over 16 minutes (the main failing of the piece is its length): away from the rule of the film-editor’s stop-watch Rota felt free to indulge himself. He declared that, ‘If I could make everyone around me experience a moment of happiness, I would do everything I possibly could.’ The same four-note figure that runs through the opening is taken up in the second movement, a quiet, slow section with a haunting intensity. The finale continues the awake-in-a-dream contrasts.
Rota composed four piano concertos, but the date of that in C major, the second item on this CD, seems to be in doubt. It is earlier than 1960, and is a sparer, jauntier work, more redolent in mood of the 1920s. It, too, presents a dialogue between the quest-like piano part and the orchestra asserting a darker mood.
Both concertos are played by Massimo Palumbo with brilliant technique, the recorded sound is excellent and I Virtuosi Italiani under Marco Boni provide excellent support. These works will not appeal to devotees of modernism or minimalism. They are unashamedly romantic and nostalgic in style. It will be interesting to see if this splendid recording opens up a few concert-hall dates for Rota’s music.'