The first impressions from the international press are unanimously enthusiastic about Alessandro Crudele’s Respighi album with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on Linn Records.

Andrew McGregor said on BBC Radio 3:

You might want to sample a new recording of Ottorino Respighi from the London Philharmonic conducted by Alessandro Crudele. Respighi’s Pines of Rome is the big hit here, but the other two pieces are major reasons to investigate I think – comparative rarities: Brazilian Impressions and Belkis, Queen of Sheba, one of Respighi’s last major works for enormous forces. The four-movement suite from Belkis draws outstanding playing from the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Alessandro Crudele.

Matthias Käther said in RBB Kultur “Meine Musik” podcast:

[…] Crudele elaborates the quiet, sensual and exotic aspects of this music better than Muti, more convincingly. […] Thanks Linn for this fine album!

Music critic Paolo Locatelli wrote on Classic Voice:

Here, then, is Alessandro Crudele’s debut disc, at the helm of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which, besides being a great listen, goes some way towards filling a gap. And above all, it does so with great class. Crudele’s Respighi is colourful and virtuoso, imaginative and iridescent. […] This is helped by the orchestra, which has flexibility and plenty of quality to spare. And what you hear is thus a Respighi who combines a lucidity of radiographic analysis with a springy discursiveness.

Sven Kerkhoff wrote on Musik an sich:

Here, Alessandro Crudele is a truly expert administrator who works with a sure instinct and resists the temptation to run after the flashy effect by applying too much colour.

On Suonare News, Angelo Foletto wrote:

An incisively beautiful reading key.

Finally, the French newspaper La Voix du Nord wrote:

Italian conductor Alessandro Crudele knows this soundworld inside out. With his skilful London orchestra, he never slips into the easy spectacle, so as to showcase all the colours and feelings which this music provides.

Last but not least, the album has been nominated for The German Record Critics’ Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) – the most important prize dedicated to recordings in Germany. The winner will be announced on August 15.