Feste Romane

Roman Festivals is a symphonic poem composed in 1928, and the third orchestral work from Respighi’s Roman Trilogy. Each of the four movements describes a scene from ancient Rome. The first movement, Circenses, depicts a battle of gladiators. The second movement, Giubilio, portrays pilgrims approaching Rome, catch a breath-taking view from the mountain, as church bells ring in the background. Next is L'Ottorbrata, representing the harvest festival, and finally La Befana depicts the big city festival on the Pizza Navona.