ROWARD:

Is anyone familiar with the music of this 20th century Italian composer? I first became aware of his music from an old London lp with excerpts from an opera La Pisanella and the Concerto Dell Estate. Recently, I found a Hyperion cd at Berkshire Record Outlet (www.berkshirerecordoutlet.com) that has four works of his with the BBC Scottish Orch. It includes extensive excerpts from Pisanella, but the highlight of the disc is the 3 Symphonic Preludes based on the Edipus legend. All of his music is extremely dramatic and has the sensibility of Rozsa's more pastoral style. I think he would have been a fine film composer. I can't praise this disc highly enough, and for $6.99, it's a bargain that can't be beat!
I am always trying to find new music that excites me in the way that the best filmmusic does, and this music more than qualifies. I might also mention another contemporary Italian composer, Malipiero. His symphonies are interesting, but I think the best of his work is incidental music for plays, such as the 3 Goldoni Comedies, also available at Berkshire, and excerpts from a rejected film score which he turned into two symphonic suites. Both of these composers have the passion and drama of Puccini, but with a more advanced harmonic palette (thankfully not atonal, however).
If you want to uncover a real hidden treasure of rhapsodic 20th century music, go for the Pizzetti. YOu won't be disappointed.