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Brilliant Classics

Duni: 6 Sonatas for Flute/Violin & B.C.

$12.99

Details

Composer
Antonio Duni
Artist
DuniEnsemble, Leonardo Massa, Claudia Di Lorenzo
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Jan 09, 2026
Catalog #
BRI97584
UPC
5028421975849

About

Antonio Duni and his better-known younger brother, Egidio, were sons of Francesco Duni, kapellmeister of the Matera Cathedral from the early 18th century. Antonio studied music in Naples as was the established practice at the time and as a composer and violinist himself became a kapellmeister. An extraordinary talent and restless genius, he left Naples in search of fortune, moving to Barcelona, then Vienna, then Madrid where in 1726 he became Master of the Royal Chapel; he then moved on to Paris, Trier and again Madrid, where in 1736 he befriended the famous singer and composer Carlo Broschi Farinelli, becoming director and choirmaster to the Duke of Osuna. By 1757 Antonio Duni could be found in Moscow, where he was commissioned by the rector of Moscow University to found the Moscow University Choir, a task that was to occupy him for more than eight years. This was followed by a short stay in Riga on the Baltic Sea and possibly a trip to China. From 1765 he moved with his wife and four children permanently to Schwerin in Germany, where in severe financial straits he died around 1766. The recent discovery of the 6 Sonatas is thanks to Thomas Suarez, a descendant of the Duni family on his mother's side, who, upon discovering a microfilm of the only printed edition in the Moscow State Library in 2019 produced the modern edition from which this recording was performed. The Sonatas were printed in Paris at the M. lle Vendome Publishing House (most active between the years 1737-1762), and the fact that the printed manuscript was found in Moscow suggests that Antonio Duni brought it with him on beginning his stay in the Russian capital (1757-65), suggesting the composition of the sonatas predates 1757. The six sonatas each feature four movements in the Corellian pattern, Lento-Veloce-Lento-Veloce. The melodic line presents cantabile themes that are never banal or "mannered", characterised by a strikingly original creativity on harmonic, phraseological and formal levels. The extremely precise articulation indications and passages modulating to keys not often frequented in the Baroque period make for challenging and interesting interpretative work. Taking up the subtitle's given option for flute in place of violin, this recording divides the sonatas between the two solo instruments. - Recorded May 2023 in Sammichele di Bari and Matera, Italy - Booklet in English contains liner notes on the works Thomas Suarez and on the composer by Claudia Di Lorenzo and Natalia Bonello along with a profile of the ensemble - The Italian liner notes & biography are available at www. Brilliantclassics. com - Born in Matera in 1709, Egidio Duni was taught by his father, the composer Francesco Duni. At the age of 9 he entered the Conservatorio in Naples, where his teachers were Pergolesi and Paisiello. His opera debut was in 1735 in Rome with Nerone, a resounding success. Like many of his generation he went to London where his opera Demafoonte (with the last appearance of the great castrato Farinelli!) was a sensation. A serious illness brought him to The Netherlands where he consulted the famous doctor Boerhaave, who cured him. He spent several years in Holland, composing instrumental chamber music for the amusement of the wealthy bourgeoisie. The last years of his life were spent in France, where he was one of the founders of the Opera Comique. - This new recording presents 6 sonatas written for either the violin or the flute, according to choice. On this recording three sonatas are played on the flute, and three on the violin. The music is charming, galant and highly melodious, entertainment at the highest level. - Played by the DuniEnsemble: Natalia Bonello (baroque flute), Vincenzo Bianco (baroque violin), Leonardo Massa (baroque cello), Claudia Di Lorenzo (harpsichord).

Tracklist 24 tracks

  1. 1 I. Largo 02:14
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  2. 2 II. Allegro Ma Non Presto 03:11
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allegro Ma Non Presto
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  3. 3 III. Largo 02:28
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  4. 4 IV. Tambourin en rondeau rondeau-danse de bergers 04:25
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Tambourin en rondeau rondeau-danse de bergers
    Duration
    04:25
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  5. 5 I. Largo 01:51
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  6. 6 II. Allegro 03:34
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:34
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  7. 7 III. Largo 01:59
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  8. 8 IV. Allegro 01:43
    Track
    8
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  9. 9 I. Allegro-Largo e dolce 03:34
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Allegro-Largo e dolce
    Duration
    03:34
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  10. 10 II. Allegro 03:51
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:51
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  11. 11 III. Largo 01:35
    Track
    11
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  12. 12 IV. Rondeau mineur 02:56
    Track
    12
    Title
    IV. Rondeau mineur
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  13. 13 I. Largo 02:06
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  14. 14 II. Allegro 03:47
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:47
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  15. 15 III. Lento 01:44
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Lento
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  16. 16 IV. Allegro 02:57
    Track
    16
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  17. 17 I. Largo 02:12
    Track
    17
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  18. 18 II. Non molto allegro et staccato 03:10
    Track
    18
    Title
    II. Non molto allegro et staccato
    Duration
    03:10
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  19. 19 III. Largo 01:41
    Track
    19
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  20. 20 IV. Menuet en rondeau 02:58
    Track
    20
    Title
    IV. Menuet en rondeau
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  21. 21 I. Largo 01:40
    Track
    21
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    01:40
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  22. 22 II. Allegro 03:32
    Track
    22
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  23. 23 III. Adagio 02:27
    Track
    23
    Title
    III. Adagio
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble
  24. 24 IV. Allegro-Menuet en rondeau 02:49
    Track
    24
    Title
    IV. Allegro-Menuet en rondeau
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Antonio Duni
    Ensemble
    Duni Ensemble