Strahinja Mitrovic & Jonathan Bloxham | Nino Rota Divertimento Concertante | GSO

Strahinja Mitrović - Double bass
Jonathan Bloxam - Conductor
Guildhall Symphony Orchestra
The Gold Medal 2024
1 May 2024 Barbican hall
Nino Rota (1911-79)
Divertimento concertante for double bass and orchestra (1968-71)
I. Allegro maestoso 1:01
II. Alla marcia (Allegramente) 10:05
III. Aria (Andante) 13:51
IV. Finale (Allegro marcato) 20:16
Milan-born Nino Rota, like his contemporaries Miklós Rózsa and Ennio Morricone, was a prolific film composer who also wrote works for the concert hall. The Godfather Parts 1 and 2 (1972/1974) are the best-known of the 170 or so films he scored. In addition, he composed eleven operas as well as orchestral, choral, chamber and piano music.
Rota's Divertimento concertante was written for the double bassist Franco Petracchi (born 1937), who at the time taught at the Bari Conservatory, of which Rota was Director. As a teacher Petracchi was distinctly of his time, by his own admission "really severe" with new students. "But if they survive," he said, "I know they will succeed." The piece stands true to its 'divertimento title, indicating a work designed for entertainment, though the third-movement aria is lyrical and reflective.
The opening Allegro was the last movement to be written. Its first theme has a heroic swagger and contrasts with a lighter, more comic idea introduced by a pair of balletic clarinets. The movement's progress is paused just before the end for a display of solo prowess (cadenza).
Rota told Petracchi that the liveliness of the following 'Alla marcia' should be "like when children are leaving school, not when they are arriving". It opens with clown-like innocence and continues with another theme, a tumbling tune first heard in flute and piccolo.
The music for the romantic Aria was originally intended for the film Doctor Zhivago before Rota withdrew from the project. He imagined a slow march of Russian exiles heading towards Siberia.
The Finale darts off at pace (Rota initially thought of it as a galop).
It's a thorough workout for the soloist, who has to muster the energy for a final cadenza just before the end.
Recorded by the AV department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
#classicalmusic #doublebass #ninorota

[@basspassion8492]

Zaista izuzetno. Svaka čast!

[@strahinjamitrovicdoublebass]

Hvala puno!

[@Petra-o8b]

Beautiful

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Stunning! Bravo

[@strahinjamitrovicdoublebass]

Thank you very much!

[@Thiplouf_59]

Amazing !

[@arpadcsikos3739]

Bravo Strahinja, fenomenalno! 👌

[@strahinjamitrovicdoublebass]

Hvala puno!

[@mirjanapantelic671]

Bravo Strahinja❤

[@strahinjamitrovicdoublebass]

Hvala!!

[@strahinjamitrovicdoublebass]

❤

[@adamgarnecki6903]

Bravo!

[@strahinjamitrovicdoublebass]

Thank you!

[@yevavolkava]

Bravo Maestro!!❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏

[@strahinjamitrovicdoublebass]

Thank you❤️

[@olivia.danielewicz]

So good!!! Well done!

[@strahinjamitrovicdoublebass]

Thank you!!

[@RGSODB]

Omg