Italian Violin Sonatas / Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante

Posted By : royse | Date : 27 Oct 2009 18:55:28 | Comments : 3 |

“

This is a lovely program that will be of interest to all listeners with even a passing interest in music of this genre and period. In addition to the rarely-heard Locatelli sonata, Baroque fiddler extraordinaire Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante offer very welcome CD premieres by equally renowned contemporaries Geminiani, Veracini, Tartini--and to a slightly lesser extent (though no less accomplished), Mascitti.
As its title suggests, the opening Sonata Prima by Veracini is a grand work both stylistically and, given the composer's reputation as one of the foremost virtuosos of his day, technically challenging. Biondi maneuvers through the widely diverse first movement "Overtura" with great panache, subtlety, and versatility, his phrasing remarkably keen and convincing, heightened with numerous inventive accents and skillful ornamentation. Likewise, Biondi's negotiation of the rapid-fire staccatos in the third movement "Paesana" and the often-severe rhythmic delineations of line featured in the final "Giga del Postiglione" are a marvel.
Locatelli's Sonata in D minor also receives a vital performance that marginally surpasses the otherwise fine version by Elizabeth Wallfisch and the Locatelli Trio on Hyperion--in particular, Biondi's bowing is crisper and more urgent sounding (most notably in the second and fourth movements). Tartini's Sonata in G minor also benefits both from Biondi's expert articulation and, especially here, his continuo choices. For instance, the broad first-movement Largo owes much of its moving affect to the use of organ and theorbo.
Arguably the most fascinating work offered is Michele Mascitti's Psyché, a charming 10-movement, not quite 17-minute, sort-of chamber "acte de ballet". Though Neapolitan by birth, Mascitti eventually moved to Paris and became a French citizen, apparently thoroughly absorbing the French style--hence Psyché sounds more as if it had been skillfully penned by the likes of Lully, Rameau, or Couperin. The initial stately dialogue that evolves between Biondi and cellist Maurizio Naddeo in "Les vents" is ravishing. The brief though very witty "L'amour en courroux au désespoir" begins with a lively torrent of brusque bowing, sharply coming to a halt, then all but petering out in sublime flourishes of resignation. Mascitti's brilliant little work couldn't be more delightful. Virgin's sound is excellent, with all the instruments sufficiently detailed yet set in a slightly roomy acoustic space. Highly recommended.

”

Composer:
Francesco Geminiani, Francesco Maria Veracini, Pietro Antonio Locatelli, Giuseppe Tartini, Michele Mascitti

Performer: Fabio Biondi
Conductor: Fabio Biondi
Orchestra/Ensemble: Europa Galante

Tracks

1. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): I Overtura (Largo)-Allegro-Adagio 5:06 9
2. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): II Aria (Affetuoso) 4:54 9
3. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): III Paesana (Allegro) 1:32 9
4. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): IV Minuet (Allegro) 1:10 9
5. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): V Giga del Postiglione (Allegro) 3:35 9

6. Sonata in re minore per violino e basso, Op.6 No.12: I Adagio 5:04 9
7. Sonata in re minore per violino e basso, Op.6 No.12: II Allegro 2:29 9
8. Sonata in re minore per violino e basso, Op.6 No.12: III Andante 2:19 9
9. Sonata in re minore per violino e basso, Op.6 No.12: IV Allegro 3:22 9

10. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: I Grand Air (Vivace) 1:40 9
11. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: II Les vents (Allegro) 3:16 9
12. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: III Festes Galantes, sarabanda (Largo) 2:40 9
13. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: IV Badinage (Allegro) 1:05 9
14. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: V Du sommeil (Largo e piano) 1:53 9
15. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: VI L`amour en courroux au désespoir (Allegro e staccato) 1:25 9
16. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: VII Calme amoureaux (Largo)) 1:06 9
17. Psyché [Violin Sonata] Op.5 No.12: VIII La Noce Allemande 1:45 9
18. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: IX Suite de la noce [Forlana] (Allegro) 1:46 9
19. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: X Derniére suite de la noce (Allegro) 1:20 9

20. Sonata in la minor Op. 4 No. 5: I Andante 2:36 9
21. Sonata in la minor Op. 4 No. 5: II Presto 3:59 9
22. Sonata in la minor Op. 4 No. 5: III Allegro affetuoso 3:38 9

23. Sonata in sol minore Op. 2 No. 1: I Largo 3:54 9
24. Sonata in sol minore Op. 2 No. 1: II Allegro 5:46 9
25. Sonata in sol minore Op. 2 No. 1: III allegro assai 2:52

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Posted By: kwork Date: 27 Oct 2009 22:12:28

Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante are excellent musicians of the craft. Thank you very much for this incredible share.

Posted By: Psanter Date: 28 Oct 2009 13:41:08

Very interesting collection! However, because the back cover, for some reason, has not been scanned and the track list does not contain composers names either, below is the list of composers in the sequence their sonatas appear on the disc: Veracini 1690-1768, Locatelli 1695-1764, Mascitti 1663/64-1760(sic!), Geminiani 1687-1762, Tartini 1692-1770.

Posted By: ariosto1 Date: 16 Dec 2009 06:39:27

Here's the corected Track list:

Tracks:

Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, Op. 1/1
Composed by Francesco Maria Veracini
with Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
1. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): I Overtura (Largo)-Allegro-Adagio 5:06 9
2. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): II Aria (Affetuoso) 4:54 9
3. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): III Paesana (Allegro) 1:32 9
4. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): IV Minuet (Allegro) 1:10 9
5. Sonata prima in sol minore, Op.1 No.1 (1721): V Giga del Postiglione (Allegro) 3:35 9

Sonata da camera, for violin & bass in D minor, Op. 6/12
Composed by Pietro Antonio Locatelli
with Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
6. Sonata in re minore per violino e basso, Op.6 No.12: I Adagio 5:04 9
7. Sonata in re minore per violino e basso, Op.6 No.12: II Allegro 2:29 9
8. Sonata in re minore per violino e basso, Op.6 No.12: III Andante 2:19 9
9. Sonata in re minore per violino e basso, Op.6 No.12: IV Allegro 3:22 9

Sonata for violin & continuo in D major ("Psyche"), Op. 5/12
Composed by Michele Mascitti
with Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
10. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: I Grand Air (Vivace) 1:40 9
11. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: II Les vents (Allegro) 3:16 9
12. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: III Festes Galantes, sarabanda (Largo) 2:40 9
13. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: IV Badinage (Allegro) 1:05 9
14. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: V Du sommeil (Largo e piano) 1:53 9
15. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: VI L`amour en courroux au désespoir (Allegro e staccato) 1:25 9
16. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: VII Calme amoureaux (Largo)) 1:06 9
17. Psyché [Violin Sonata] Op.5 No.12: VIII La Noce Allemande 1:45 9
18. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: IX Suite de la noce [Forlana] (Allegro) 1:46 9
19. Psyché [violin sonata] Op.5 No.12: X Derniére suite de la noce (Allegro) 1:20 9

Sonata for violin & continuo No. 5 in A minor, Op. 4/5
Composed by Francesco Geminiani
with Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
20. Sonata in la minor Op. 4 No. 5: I Andante 2:36 9
21. Sonata in la minor Op. 4 No. 5: II Presto 3:59 9
22. Sonata in la minor Op. 4 No. 5: III Allegro affetuoso 3:38 9

Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, B. g4 (Op. 2/1)
Composed by Giuseppe Tartini
with Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
23. Sonata in sol minore Op. 2 No. 1: I Largo 3:54 9
24. Sonata in sol minore Op. 2 No. 1: II Allegro 5:46 9
25. Sonata in sol minore Op. 2 No. 1: III allegro assai 2:52

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