This was always one of the most reliable couplings of Respighi's trilogy of tetralogies; it's now good value as well. For my taste the night scene on the Janiculum (Pines) could be stiller, its textures of solo strings plus piano even a touch more ravishing, but the sudden awareness of fresh air after emerging from the catacombs (perhaps the tour of them could have been a little slower, too?) could hardly be better done, and how sensible of Dutoit to realize that nightingales are usually heard at a distance (not a few recordings plonk the unfortunate bird down in the middle of the violas). The Fountains are splendidly done throughout, with warmth in the air even as dawn breaks over Valle Giulia, and a dazzle of sunshine on Bernini's Triton.
All those bits in Festivals that one feels slightly ashamed of looking forward to (the big crescendo as the pilgrims catch their first glimpse of St Peter's in ''Jubilee'', the schmalzy string tune in ''The October Festival'', the raucous street organ and the inebriated trombone in ''Epiphany'') are pretty well spot-on, and recorded with a very satisfying dynamic range and sense of space. Most enjoyable. '