Another Surprise from the Baroque
Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 05/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Note: If you're looking through my reviews on my review list you'll find items listed here and there as no longer available. However, if you go the Amazon's current listing they often are available. For example, on October 19 2007 there are seven lisitngs for this CD, for example. Hope that helps.
Dall'Abaco may be little known, but his music deserves far better. Italian music of this period remains dominated by Vivaldi, but as any violinist can tell you, a number of Italian composers created a wealth of beautifully crafted string music during the Baroque era. Dall'Abaco has been well served on this CD, as well as on the two CD set from the Cologne group. On all these CDs Dall'Abaco's music is served up 'piping hot' as the phrase goes, and there is much to admire. These are never dull performances! Moreover, the dreaded 'wallpaper music' effect of pieces sounding too much alike and lacking any genuine originality is avoided - Dall'Abaco's travels and curiousity colors his writing with intriquing melodies and effects. The recording here of the two Sonate reminds me in 'relistenablity' of the superb Buxtehude sonatas, truly high praise. These by Dall'Abaco exude the same vivacity and show a surprising compositional complexity.
The recording has a boomy over-reverberent quality, doubtless the acoustic envirnonment tended this way. Some might find this a bit much -this quality shows up well enough in the samples to permit you to decide if it's okay or a little too much reverb for your taste. The individual instruments are more prominent and forward than on the Koln CD.
Try the samples and make up your own mind. The music itself is fine stuff - a good example of why we need fewer Mahler CDs (fat chance!) and more groups like this, and producers willing to take a chance on fresh material."