The musicians of Les Ombres pay tribute to Luigi Boccherini. The free and audacious composer was an insatiable traveler and the inventor of the string quartet whose belatedly acknowledged genius has now earned him a major place in the history of music.

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REVIEW:

This release from the historical-performance group Les Ombres adds some intriguing pieces to the repertory of available Boccherini works. The "Une nuit à Madrid" title refers to the idea that these pieces might have been played at a soirée organized by one of Boccherini's employers in the 1780s, and the selections get at the diversity and vigor that makes this composer so intriguing.

Partly recorded in a church, it lends the instruments a harsh sound that is no fault of the players, and it is as far as can be imagined from what Boccherini's audiences would have heard in a Spanish court salon, but the essential qualities of the music come through, and Boccherini fans will welcome this release. Physical CD buyers will get a booklet that sketches a vivid portrait of the composer.

– AllMusicGuide.com (James Manheim)