The Antonini orchestra, imbued with the spirit of their famous conductor, takes us on a tour of romantic Europe through their recording of ‘Continental Memories.’ Skipping lightly through the bright opening passages of Kwiecinski’s Festive Dances, the orchestra’s agility is quickly demonstrated in this Polish selection with its sudden changes to brief moments of dramatic melancholy. Dream, the homeland of lovers, is beautifully portrayed in Massenet’s Le Reve from the opera ‘Manon,’ and Catalani’s In A Dream. In De Nardis’ Call Of The Mountains, the orchestra aptly presents the rugged picturesqueness of the mountains of Italy which invite the free of heart to listen to the serenade of nature and find time for solitude. History and escape into the past have always been an inviting door for romance. Ancient styles, customs and panoply play an important part in Panufnik’s Hayduk from his ‘Suite Of Ancient Polish Airs.’ So, too, does the spectacular Italian Casanova bring images of an age when courting was gracious and music was, more often than not, the language of love. Antonini presents an homage to this courtly rake in Casanova Waltz by the Polish composer Rozycki who has captured the impetuous nature of the famous lover as he skips from beauty to beauty in 3/4 time. The Neapolitan comprehension of human emotions is dramatically presented as a muted trumpet solo in Nutile’s Mamma Mia Che Vo’ Sape? conveys the spirit of a young lad striving to understand his feelings of love. The Spanish love fiercely and passionately, and Nights Of Granada by Zellner marks the tremendous feeling every Spaniard has for that ancient city, the stronghold for centuries of Moorish influence. Here, then, an enchanting half-hour of romance and ‘Continental Memories.’