What Are You Listening To?

[Dissily Mordentroge]

There was a tradition with musicians in Vienna in the late 19th century to perform small scale music after the opera/ symphony concerts etc in private homes. Many were given by world class musicians who often took the opportunity to send up the seriousness of classical music. 

Respighi however was going further with this little ‘cat song' sending up opera duets, some of which he’d written himself. Sadly this concert wasn’t filmed but you can get a feeling for the effect thanks to being able to hear the audience giggling along.