Marie Victoire

The name Ottorino Respighi probably brings to mind his three “Roman” pieces: Fountains of… (1916), Pines of… (1924), and Roman Festivals (1928). His nine operas are often overlooked, but on this week’s Sunday Opera (2/23 3:00 p.m.), we’re turning to one of his lush “late-Romantic” pieces that was completed in 1914 but not premiered until 2004 because of the intervention of the First World War. The work is “Marie Victoire” and follows the life of title character who narrowly escapes execution during the French Revolution only to have to fight for the life of her falsely accused husband.