LA BOUTIQUE FANTASQUE, Rossini-Respighi SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

When I was a teenager listening to classical music with my friends, this piece occupied a special place in our musical pantheon. We brought it out on special occasions to show off classical music for new kids.

The music was written for a ballet by Rossini and arranged by Respighi (or perhaps the other way round) anyway the composer can be listed as one or the other and sometimes both. Also sometimes works with French titles are translated into English so you may find this piece listed as The Magic Toyshop. There is an excellent version of this by Solti on London/Decca but it is not accessible on Spotify as of this writing.  Both the Boston Pops and Solti original recordings are from mid 50's.

Respigi

If one is going to be a true classical music lover you will have to learn to sit or lay down and not be a nuisance to one's self or others for at least 30 minutes and just relax and enjoy the sound of one piece of music unfold over you. To that end, this piece will serve as a stepping-stone.

If I was exiled to a desert Island and could only bring 10 recordings this would certainly be one.

This CD has another great piece  reviewed elsewhere on this blog, Gaite Parisianne.