Respighi (1879-1936) is probably the greatest Italian composer of the first half of the 20th century. Respighi's music is highly ornamental, descriptive, and, as in these works here, programmatic. Belkis, Regina di Saba (1931) is the suite taken from the fuller ballet he wrote. It has all the Oriental coloring that Scheherazade has, but this time it's paced more effectively as a ballet. Metamorphosen (1930) is a set of themes and variations that have no programme, but they do show just how melodically adroit Respighi was, as well as showing the depths of his ability for orchestration. Surprisingly good stuff. --Paul Cook