Details: Music for 'The Cardinal King': the only
complete available recording of an
engaging chamber-collection from 18thcentury Rome, written for the head of a
renegade English Catholic family in exile.
Several previous Brilliant Classics albums
have given notice of the under-appreciated
gifts of Carlo Tessarini (1690-1766).
Collections of his violin and flute sonatas
have revealed a consistently inspired and
stylish voice, reliably well-turned melodies
and shapely instrumental parts rewarding
players and listeners alike. The same
qualities illuminate this collection of five
Allettamenti da Camera, composed in
Rome in 1740 and dedicated to His Royal
Highness Henry Duke of York. By that stage
in his career, the Rimini-born Tessarini had
worked for courts and aristocratic patrons
in Venice and Urbino. He had lately
moved south to Rome, perhaps in hope of
currying favour with the Stuarts, who had
lived in the city as celebrated exiles for
some years. Surely no dedicatee,
whatever their musical expertise, could
fail to be delighted by music of such
accomplishment and sunny elegance.
Each of the five Allettamenti is cast in a
tripartite quick-slow-quick form of sonata
movements, and they are crowned by a
virtuosic, two-part Capriccio which allots a
starring role to the solo violin in a set of
increasingly elaborate variations. All the
same, Tessarini departed for Naples
shortly after their composition, and
continued on his travels across Europe, finding
receptive audiences in France, England and the
Netherland, where he died early in 1767.
This new recording has been made by an
ensemble of Italian early-music specialists who
have gathered for the purpose under the
banner of the Cappella Musicale Enrico Stuart.
They are led by the violinist Gabriele Pro, who is
joined by Andrea Lattarulo (cello), Michele
Carreca (theorbo and guitar) and Simone El
Oufir Pierini (harpsichord). Pierini has won
glowing opinions for previous Brilliant Classics
albums dedicated to the music of Cherubini
(96246), de Montgéroult (96247) and Tinazzoli
(96865).
