Kevin Stanley reviews The Hallé's Italianissimo...
The concert began with the mellow but playful Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture followed by tenor Charne Rochford taking the vocals for Verdi's La Donna è Mobile and just a little later again for Di Capua O Sole Mio which will be well known to anyone who saw adverts for Cornetto ice cream in the 1990s. The song is in fact the most famous Neapolitan song in history and was composed in 1898 by Eduardo di Capua and Alfredo Mazzucchi with lyrics by Giovanni Capurro. The tune was later used by Elvis Presley for his song It's Now or Never.
Rochford, a late replacement for the originally billed tenor (we wish him well in recovering from laryngitis) has a wonderful voice, full of passion and verve. He has a fabulously expressive face and he won audience approval immediately. It’s clear that he was delighted to be in Nottingham performing with the world renowned Hallé Orchestra.
the house really was brought down with an astonishing performance
Hans Zimmer’s Gladiator Suite and the Love Theme from the Godfather took us to the Colosseum of Rome and to New York, via Sicily, respectively and it was a real treat for film lovers such as myself to experience them being performed live by such a well-respected and talented orchestra – worth the ticket price alone. Later more movie music delighted the audience in the form of Ennio Morricone’s Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso. Finally, in a collection of great tunes from films, we heard Georges Auric’s theme from Roman Holiday.
Rochford took to the stage for one last flourish – and is certainly was very impressive – as he performed the stunning vocals for Giacomo Puccini’s Nessun Dorma (well known to football fans of Italia ‘90) before the house really was brought down with an astonishing performance of Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome – the likes of which I have never seen before. A symphonic poem, Pines of Rome, ends with a Roman army marching into the capital, its heavy tread heralded by a blaze of trumpets. It was absolutely superb. The audience stood as one to applaud the Hallé with roars of Bravo! Whistles, clapping and cheers filling the concert hall.
The Hallé - Italianissimo! took place at the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham, on Thursday 16 March, 7.30pm, 2023.
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