Search - Karl Heinrich Biber von Bibern, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Antonio Frige :: Biber: Trumpet Sonatas

A virtuoso display

Graham Dixon | Xifeng, Gansu, China | 03/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carl Biber's sadly overlooked trumpet works finally receive an airing, and from a superbly stylish orchestra who clearly have a solid grip on the performance style. Cassonne's playing is startling. He seems at ease in the very highest register, particularly in the higher D-major sonata in the middle of the disc, and the trills and articulation are matchless. Apart from the four solo trumpet sonatas, there are two trumpet ensemble sonatas, though it is slightly disappointing not to have the large-scale eight trumpet sonata, as the only version of this ever recorded on natural trumpets has been out of circulation for nearly 20 years. Heinrich Biber (father of Carl) makes an appearance in two string works, including the evocative Sonata Representativa, and the extremely fine double trumpet ground-bass sonata VII from Tam Aris. Altogether, an extremely well thought-through recording, with some impeccable playing, finally bringing to light some of the gems of the late Baroque."