Corelli: 12 Concerti Grossi, Op. 6

Having completed the entire trilogy of Handel's Concerti grossi, the Akademie Fur Alte Musik Berlin presents a recording of the first six Concerti grossi, Op. 6 by the composer, ensemble leader and violin virtuoso Arcangelo Corelli, who received the almost cult-like reverence during his lifetime. The composer had been experimenting with this one of the most distinctive forms of instrumental music of the Baroque era since the late 1670s, but it was only towards the end of his life that he sought to publish these compositions and selected only twelve exemplary pieces from what was probably a much larger collection. He laid the foundations of this instrumental form for future composers such as the aforementioned Georg Frederic Handel, who paid tribute to the Italian Baroque master with his two opuses. The Akademie Fur Alte Musik Berlin and it's two concertmasters, Mayumi Hirasaki and Georg Kallweit, who demonstrate their extraordinary virtuosity, only prove why they are regarded as one of the most influential period-instrument ensembles of today. The Akademie Fur Alte Musik Berlin has a substantial PENTATONE discography, including the Diapason d'Or awarded CANTATA with Bejun Mehta (2018), Handel's Concerti grossi Op. 3 and 6 (released in 2019 and 2020), Telemann's Miriways (2020), Handel's Messiah (2020), Haydn's L'isola disabitata (2021), La Passione with Christina Landshamer (2022), a recording of Mozart's Paris and Haffner symphonies and the Oboe Concerto with Xenia Loffler (2023), Telemann's Ino (2024), and a recording with Mozart's symphonies Nos. 29 & 33 and the Clarinet Concerto with Ernst Schlader (2024).

The name of the young Czech virtuoso Michaela Koudelkova should be committed well to memory. She has far more going for her than just the names of her teachers (Peter Holtslag, Erik Bosgraaf). She is a winner of the Tel Aviv Recorder Competition and a finalist of the York Early Music International Young Artists Competition in England, and her solo recitals have included an appearance at the prestigious Oude Muziek Festival in Utrecht. Her Supraphon debut, for which she has chosen masterworks by Handel and Corelli, showcases her uncompromising technique, but above all it shows her supreme musical sensitivity and her interpretive stylishness, including the ability to improvise, participating in the recreation of notated works. Of all the sonatas listed on the album, only one is intended for her instrument; the rest were originally for violin or transverse flute. Of course, a characteristic of the baroque era was great freedom in the choice of solo instruments, as is clear from period printed editions, and the recorder was very popular at the time. Besides the most common alto and soprano recorders, the recording also features an instrument with a darker timbre, the voice flute in D, which was popular in England, and the sixth flute, pitched an octave higher and often used for music played between acts of Handel's London operas. Besides sonatas by Handel, the soloist has also chosen three sonatas from Corelli's Opus 5. Over the centuries, the art of improvisation has been taught using the passaggi in the slow movements of the twelve violin sonatas in this iconic collection. The last and most famous sonata, "Follia", is the brilliant and rather experimental climax of the album, combining the creativity of the composer with that of the performers. Lightness, liveliness, spontaneity, bravura, intoxicating richness of sound - Michaela Koudelkova's exciting Handel and Corelli

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CORELLI: SONATAS OP. 5 NO 7 -

RECITAL JOSEPH SZIGETI

La Petite Bande recorded its set during the late 1970s and these are performances which do considerable justice to the music. Brisker tempos, lighter bass string playing and an altogether more imaginative approach to continuo realization bring these concertos alive to an extent hardly realised by I Musici. Sigiswald Kuijken, the leader and director of La Petite Bande, includes a theorbo in his continuo group and this is invariably an effective addition... [I]n matters of baroque style, as in its more highly developed spirit of fantasy, La Petite Bande offers satisfying performances.

-- Nicholas Anderson, Gramophone [9/1990]

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For her 24th recording for Cedille Records, violinist Rachel Barton Pine joins forces with period instrument specialists David Schrader, John Mark Rozendaal, and Brandon Acker to record Arcangelo Corelli's seminal set of 12 Violin Sonatas, Op. 5. "An exciting, boundary-defying performer" (Washington Post), Pine has been described as "a most accomplished Baroque violinist, fully the equal of the foremost specialists" (Gramophone). Known for her versatility across a vast repertoire - from Renaissance to heavy metal - she has studied period performance practice extensively and performs on the viola d'amore, renaissance violin, and medieval rebec. She has appeared as soloist with Apollo's Fire, the Seattle and Indianapolis Baroque Orchestras, Baroque Band, and Ars Antigua, and has performed concertos with Nicholas McGegan, Jeannette Sorrell, and Frans Bruggen. Published in 1700, Corelli's Twelve Violin Sonatas are foundational in the evolution of both the sonata and concerto forms. This recording explores these compositions through a historically informed approach, utilizing an array of period instruments, each chosen to enhance the expressive nuances of Corelli's music. Reflecting the era's experimental spirit, the ensemble embraces the interpretative freedom suggested by Corelli's original scores. Schrader alternates between organ and harpsichord, Rozendaal between violoncello and viola da gamba, and Acker performs on theorbo, archlute, and baroque guitar. Pine, inspired by the versatility of her colleagues, performs the famous "Follia" variations (Sonata No. 12) on an original-condition Gagliano viola d'amore, exploring this rarely used instrument in an authentic historical context. Corelli: Violin Sonatas, Op. 5, was produced and engineered by the Grammy-winning team of James Ginsburg and Bill Maylone. It was recorded on February 21, 23, and 25, 2024 and April 29-May 2, 2024, at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston, IL.

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• As 2013 marked the tricenntial of Corelli's death, Enrico Onofri together with the Imaginarium Ensemble start a complete recording of this major sonata cycle. • Arcangelo Corelli’s Op. 5 was one of the 18th centuries bestsellers - (42 new editions up to 1800!). • Booklet notes in English, French and Italian.

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