The Allure of Italy

One Italian writer has spoken of "the fatal charm of Italy." Lured by the beauty of Italy, travelers often don't want to go home. So it is with composers, especially from Northern Europe. The sunshine and warmth of Italy released in them an outpouring of warm lyricism. Mendelssohn leads the parade, but later Richard Strauss and Edward Elgar succumbed to the peninsula's charm. As spring approaches, we will hear some of this alluring music.