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This recording presents music by two Scarlattis: Alessandro (1660-1725), composer of innumerable vocal and chamber works, and his son Domenico (1685-1757), famous mostly for his several hundred keyboard sonatas. Alessandro is represented by six Concerti Grossi, a Sonata, and a Sinfonia; Domenico by three Sinfonias. All feature solo instruments: harp, recorder, and most prominently, violins and continuo cello. Alessandro fostered his son's talent, but the two eventually, perhaps inevitably, became rivals, and Domenico left his native Rome for Portugal and then Spain. Most of Alessandro's music recorded here is somber, solemn, and mournful, full of dissonances and sighing suspensions; four of the six concerti are in minor, but the two in major are bright and sprightly. One of the highlights is the slow, pastoral Finale of No. 6. They vary greatly in form, character, and texture; there is much masterful counterpoint, pungent rhythmic inventiveness, and a chromaticism that seems ahead of its time.
Europa Galante, an excellent Italian period-instrument group, is distinguished by its successful blending of meticulous technical and ensemble execution with musical spontaneity. Notable among the soloists are cellist Maurizio Naddeo and recorder player Petr Zeifart. Violinist Fabio Biondi, the group's director, is outstanding for his virtuosity, beautiful tone, and daring, inventive ornamentation. He deserves our gratitude for rescuing these unfamiliar works from undeserved neglect. --Edith Eisler
Scarlatti: Concerti & Sinfonie Reviews
Scarlatti: Concerti & Sinfonie Reviews
| 17 of 17 people found the following review helpful  Dark Baroque Chef d' oeuvre, By Francois Beaudoin (Quebec, Canada (where we speak french)) - See all my reviews This review is from: Scarlatti: Concerti & Sinfonie (Audio CD) This album contains three very short sinfonie of Domenico Scarlatti (the son and rival of the father)which are very exciting. The Sinfonia in G major as example, contains writing that is more excitable and virtuosic.There is six concertis grossis of Allesandro (the father). Alessandro Scarlatti's Concertis grossi seem to a singularly small extend to be concertante. Only the two major-key concertos (Nos 3 and 6) offer the soloists any real chance to shine, and of these, although in the pastoral Third concerto the first violin seems to be featured, in the last movement of the sixth each of the solo voices has its equal right to a little moment of glory. I owned this Cd for about six months and I never listened to it...since a week!!! I was first unable to endure the darkness suffering of Allessandro Concertis. It seems to me that I was listening to a dark legacy of one of the king of Baroque era. So I hide it in a wardrobe. A week ago, I listened to one of these masterpieces at... Read more 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful EYE OPENING, By This review is from: Scarlatti: Concerti & Sinfonie (Audio CD) When I listen to instrumental Baroque music I, of course, go to J.S. Bach then to Tomoso Albinoni and to Antonio Vivaldi not thinking of Alessandro Scarlatti or his son Domenico for instrumental (as in string ensembles) Baroque music. I primarily think of Alessandro for vocal works and Domenico for keyboard works. This recording has certainly opened my eyes to the fact there was far more to the Scarlattis than my preconceived ideas.Alessandro's Concerti Grossi are indeed rather somber being written mainly in minor keys and consisting of at least two slow movements. I do have a propensity for the love of works in minor keys and for movements marked "Grave", "Adagio" and/or "Largo"; therefore, I enjoyed his Concertos. (After all, there are dance movements that although they would not make one "twirl the floor" they are very graceful.) The programming on this disc is great because the aforesaid somber works by Alessandro are lightened by the Sinfonias of his son Domenico... Read more 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful Music to get your teeth into.., By This review is from: Scarlatti: Concerti & Sinfonie (Audio CD) This disc is a little imposing at first, but familiarity is rewarded with this program of superb early baroque music that has a great variety of pieces.One of the reviewers below finds it depressing. I can understand how the slow dense shifting chords in several of the pieces could evoke that feeling, but for me they seem to express some deeply felt and complex inner peace, especially as they are interspersed with some light and elegant passages, especially some that feature lute or plucked violin(?). I guess that this isn't perhaps the easiest Biondi disc to listen to for some people (I would advise listening to a few tracks first), but Europa Gallante give a wonderful compact performance. |
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