Respighi: Pini diRoma / Fontane di Roma / Feste Romane
This is deluxe Respighi. These tone poems were specialties of Eugene Ormandy, who  recorded them with the Philadelphia Orchestra at least twice in stereo, once for Sony and again for  RCA. Neither of those versions is really competitive sonically, so it's great to hear this superlative  orchestra play the music under a knowing conductor in fully modern (if not quite perfect) sound.  Ricardo Muti is no mere Ormandy clone, however. To the orchestra's natural opulence, he adds an  extra dash of discipline and a firm grip on the rhythmic tiller. The result is both lushly Romantic  and exciting--really these three tone poems have never been better conducted.--David  Hurwitz