Classical Notes: December 2, 2011 Archive

Happy Birthday Mr. Rota

Posted at 6:00 AM on December 2, 2011 by Lynne Warfel

What can you say about a man whose own name hardly ever is spoken without Federico Fellini's? Which one was the muse and which the artist? On what would have been his 100th birthday (Dec. 3), here is a sampling of some of his most famous scores, there are so many, with images that transcend the overused word "iconic". Still black and white photos that are art in themselves, and when you hear the music behind 8 ½, La Strada and the rest, it's like walking though a museum of fine film art: the marriage of actors, locations, music and light and shadow.

Also included, a performance of his Sinfonia No. 1, a fine example of how classical music informed his film writing and how the films influenced his conservatory training, perhaps. Happy 100th Mr. Rota!

8 ½

Finale La Dolce Vita

Amarcord