Respighi/Rossini: La Boutique fantasque; Impressioni brasiliane. Charles Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Decca 289 455 983-2.

Respighi/Rossini: La Boutique fantasque; Impressioni brasiliane. Charles Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Decca 289 455 983-2.

Respighi's delightful composite of lesser-known Rossini tunes makes a splendid impression under conductor Charles Dutoit. La Boutique fantasque has a built-in charm. How can one not like a ballet that brings toys to life after the toy shop closes? My comparison in the work was the equally well-played recording by Richard Bonynge, an early digital release (1982) also from Decca/London. Dutoit brings a gentler, more delicate quality to the score than Bonynge, which may or may not please all listeners while certainly making the work easy to listen to.

But it's in its sonic properties that the new disc scores over its older rival. Dutoit's forces sound smoother, buttery smooth, in fact, more dynamic, and, most important, better imaged. There is a depth and breadth to the orchestral arena that makes the Bonynge effort sound positively one-dimensional. Dutoit's acoustic is natural and alive, preserving detail and clarity within a subtly reverberant ambiance. Dutoit's coupling, Respighi's Impressioni brasiliane, is surprisingly refined for a composer often known only for his bombast. The piece is almost sedate in its understatement but, frankly, doesn't capture much of Brazil's traditional spirit until the final movement. Overall, Dutoit's La Boutique fantasque is probably the best one now available, surely the best sounding, and its companion piece makes it an even better value.