Strahinja Mitrović double bass - Nino Rota Divertimento Concertante I Allegro Maestoso

Strahinja Mitrović double bass & Jonathan Bloxam with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra


The Gold Medal 2024
1 May 2024 Barbican hall


Nino Rota (1911-79)
Divertimento concertante for double bass and orchestra (1968-71)

Allegro maestoso

Cadenza 06:20

Milan-born Nino Rota, like his contemporaries Miklós Rózsa and Ennio Morricone, was a prolific film composer who also wrote works for the concert hall. The Godfather Parts 1 and 2 (1972/1974) are the best-known of the 170 or so films he scored. In addition, he composed eleven operas as well as orchestral, choral, chamber and piano music.

Rota's Divertimento concertante was written for the double bassist Franco Petracchi (born
1937), who at the time taught at the Bari Conservatory, of which Rota was Director. As a teacher Petracchi was distinctly of his time, by his own admission "really severe" with new students. "But if they survive," he said, "I know they will succeed." The piece stands true to its
'divertimento title, indicating a work designed for entertainment, though the third-movement aria is lyrical and reflective.
The opening Allegro was the last movement to be written. Its first theme has a heroic swagger and contrasts with a lighter, more comic idea introduced by a pair of balletic clarinets. The movement's progress is paused just before the end for a display of solo prowess (cadenza).