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Brilliant Classics

Boccherini: Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2

$12.99

Details

Composer
Luigi Boccherini
Artist
Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Nov 28, 2025
Catalog #
BRI97643
UPC
5028421976433

About

Luigi Boccherini composed just a single set of sonatas, Op.5, specifically for violin and piano. However, his commercial celebrity and his artistic reputation at the time, as a composer considered in the same breath as Mozart and Haydn, encouraged publishers to commission arrangements of other works. Such arrangements include this set of Sonatas published in London in 1780, made by Thomas Billington but admitted to the catalogue of Boccherini's works as G34-39. Igor Ruhadze and Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya have made the first ever complete recording of this set as a sequel to their 5CD set of Boccherini sonatas (96612) issued by Brilliant Classics in 2023. 'Looking forward to the sequel!' concluded the review in Diapason of that set, after praising the stylish spirit of musicianship and authenticity in the playing of both artists. Compared to their rivals on record, remarked the reviewer, 'the seduction is more demonstrative, the contrasts more accentuated, the sensuality and the feeling more showy.' Today, as Rudolf Rasch's booklet note remarks, we may prefer original works over arranged works; in the 18th century, such a preference was unknown. No one looked down on them. In fact, they made a composer's music accessible for those who could not perform them in their original format. There was hardly a format more accessible for music-making among friends than the violin sonata, in which the piano would take the lion's share of the harmony from the original work, with the principal melody line assigned to the violin. As well as these violin sonatas, Thomas Billington arranged Corelli's concerti grossi for solo keyboard, and composed a good deal of his own music. In these sonatas, he drew from Boccherini's Trios Op.4 and Op.6, Quartets Op.8 and Quintets Op.10. He was in any case emulating the example of Boccherini himself, who made several such arrangements. As always with Boccherini, there is no shortage of attractive melodies and upbeat, galant invention to contrast with the lyrical beauty of the slow movements. - Luigi Boccherini was born in the Italian city of Lucca in Tuscany, on 19 February 1743, the son of Leopoldo Boccherini, a cellist and double-bass player. The young Luigi received his first music lessons from his father and at the Seminario di San Giovanni in Lucca. The cello was to become his instrument. At the age of ten, he was apparently already so advanced that his father sent him to Rome for further studies at the end of 1753, where he possibly remained until 1756. Apart from a brief period in Vienna around 1760, he was in Lucca until he set out to Paris (perhaps the major musical centre of the time) in the spring of 1768. Later that year he would go to Spain, where he would remain for the rest of his life until his death on 28 May 1805. - This new recording is the second volume of the complete violin sonatas, works in which the pianoforte plays a significant role next to the solo violin. - Critical praise for violinist Igor Ruhadze and pianist Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya: 'The early-music world needs more performers like Igor Ruhadze... This is some of the most accomplished historically informed violin playing I have heard in a long time.' Fanfare (Geminiani, 96524). 'Nepomnyashchaya provides a lesson in how one may realize such sonata bass lines. Her accompaniment is varied in texture and detail, balancing right-hand countermelodies with arpeggiated chordal washes of sound and heavy block chords at cadences. Like Ruhadze, she is a consummate specialist in Baroque style and practice.' - 'These musicians make a strong case for the violin-keyboard duo as an artistic medium. 'Strongly recommended for the music itself and for the dedicated, exciting performances.' Fanfare (Locatelli, 94376).

Tracklist 19 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro con forza 07:55
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro con forza
    Duration
    07:55
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  2. 2 II. Adagio 04:39
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    04:39
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  3. 3 III. Rondo grazioso 02:18
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Rondo grazioso
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  4. 4 I. Allegro moderato 03:40
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  5. 5 II. Cantabile, Ma con un poco moto 03:00
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Cantabile, Ma con un poco moto
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  6. 6 III. Tempo di minuetto 04:28
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Tempo di minuetto
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  7. 7 IV. Finale: Presto assai 00:41
    Track
    7
    Title
    IV. Finale: Presto assai
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  8. 8 I. Allegro assai 04:44
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Allegro assai
    Duration
    04:44
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  9. 9 II. Adagio 03:02
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  10. 10 III. Allegro (Presto assai) 06:31
    Track
    10
    Title
    III. Allegro (Presto assai)
    Duration
    06:31
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  11. 11 I. Allegro 04:49
    Track
    11
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    04:49
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  12. 12 II. Adagio 01:31
    Track
    12
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  13. 13 III. Tempo di minuetto 01:56
    Track
    13
    Title
    III. Tempo di minuetto
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  14. 14 IV. Allegro assai 06:22
    Track
    14
    Title
    IV. Allegro assai
    Duration
    06:22
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  15. 15 I. Andante grazioso 05:21
    Track
    15
    Title
    I. Andante grazioso
    Duration
    05:21
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  16. 16 II. Allegro con spirito 06:00
    Track
    16
    Title
    II. Allegro con spirito
    Duration
    06:00
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  17. 17 I. Andante 03:19
    Track
    17
    Title
    I. Andante
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  18. 18 II. Allegro con spirito 04:05
    Track
    18
    Title
    II. Allegro con spirito
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya
  19. 19 III. Rondo tempo di minuetto 04:52
    Track
    19
    Title
    III. Rondo tempo di minuetto
    Duration
    04:52
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Igor Ruhadze, Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya