Marta Gardolińska
I conducted Ottorino Respighi’s *Pini di Roma* in May 2011. It formed part of a concert with the Podkarpacka Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra in Rzeszów, Poland. By that time, I had completed a total of three years’ study in conducting. *Pini di Roma* is a monumental work which presents a number of challenges in various aspects of conducting. The work consists of four distinct movements. Each of these demands a different conducting technique, as well as rehearsal work with a huge ensemble. A particular difficulty arises from the expansion of the orchestra to include a group of six ’buccine’, a ’tromba interna’ and a recording of a nightingale’s song. Analysing this supplementary score requires further study. It is necessary to transcribe the orchestral parts for the brass instruments available in the orchestra and to ensure the nightingale’s song is recorded correctly. In this paper, I describe the preparation of the score, the orchestral parts, the rehearsal phase and the performance of the piece.
