This is the first English language biography of Ottorino Respighi, the most performed Italian composer of the twentieth century.
Best known for his so-called Roman trilogy, (Fountains of Rome, Pines of Rome and Roman Festivals), this book documents the story of his rise to fame and offers a fascinating insight into the active lifestyle of an internationally renowned musician, who made an important contribution to the revival of interest in early music.
It also takes a closer look at Respighi-s associations with eminent figures such as Arturo Toscanini, Serge Diaghilev, Gabriele D-Annunzio and even Albert Einstein which make his story deeply engaging and take us beyond the realms of music into a world of Russian -gr- wealthy patrons and Nobel Prize winners, while also documenting some of the early effects of fascism on art and culture.
