Paolino Vassallo - Orchestral Music (2007)

[Ilja]

Dear all,


For a while, I've been trying to acquire a recording of several orchestral works by the Maltese composer Paolino Vassallo (1856-1923), which was released in 2007 by the house label of the National Orchestra of Malta, conducted by Christopher Muscat. Unfortunately, the orchestra has not replied to my queries, and I can find it for sale nowhere, either new or used. Can any of you good people help me?

[Alan Howe]

How about contacting the conductor using this form?>>>
https://www.christophermuscat.com/contact.htm

[Ilja]

I had already done that; he replied this morning, and gave me contact data at the National Orchestra of Malta (other than the general information address, which I'd tried already). I'll keep you updated.

[Alan Howe]

Great - well done. I'd be interested in the recording too.

[mikehopf]

I've got 7 CDs in the Gega collection of  Maltese Sacred Music including Masses and Sinfonias by Vassallo, Fremond, Bugeja and A. Nani together with shorter religious works by Galea, Fenech, Vella, Decesare`and P.Nani. Are they also available on Spotify?

[Mark Thomas]

Spotify's search function can be a bit hit and miss, but all I can find there by Vassallo is the Grande Messa.

[mikehopf]

Qobuz has the Nani Shipwreck Mass and - my favourite - Isouard's Liturgy of St John plus a short Sinfonia.

For the opera tragics, Isouard's delightful opera Cendrillon is also available on a  2CD set from Albany ( and Qobuz).

[Alan Howe]

Here's Vassallo's Intermezzo from his opera Frazir (1905):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAafWMVDq3E

[Mark Thomas]

Very pretty - but maybe a tad too long?

[Alan Howe]

And without a memorable tune?

[Ilja]

Pleasant enough, and the section from 1:00 onwards has a pretty tune (which I suspect may originate in Maltese folk music). But hearing such intermezzi on their own and out of the context of the larger work is rarely a good idea. To me, this sounds like a ballet intermezzo, to be honest.


Hopefully, a CD with Vassallo's orchestral works is on its way to me right now; I've asked for permission to share it with the forum. That will give us a better idea of the composer's abilities, I'm sure.

[Alan Howe]

But hearing such intermezzi on their own and out of the context of the larger work is rarely a good idea

Haven't record companies made a mint out of such collections, though? The problem with the Vassallo is surely quality - it just doesn't work very well on its own, unlike these, for example:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7960520--opera-intermezzi

[Ilja]

I don't rule that out, but we'll have to wait for a bit more of his works to make a better judgment, I think.


Also, I don't think we entirely agree on the merit of all the pieces on the CD you mention.

[Alan Howe]

Fair point, Ilja.