DESCRIPTION:
In 1929, Serge Koussevitzky had the idea that some of Rachmaninoff's 'Etudes-Tableaux' for piano solo would sound well if orchestrated and he suggested Respighi for this task. Rachmaninoff himself was delighted with the idea and suggested five of the pieces, additionally supplying Respighi with various programmatic ideas and titles. The first number in the set is "The Sea and Seagulls" and it is heard here in a performance by the Cincinnati Orchestra under Jesus Lopez-Cobos. (With due acknowledgements to Telarc.)