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Challenge Classics

Italian Concertos & Sonatas / Lucia Swarts

$18.99

Details

Composer
PLATTI PORPORA VIVALDI
Artist
Swarts, Teatro Lirico, Stubbs
Format
CD
Label
Challenge Classics
Released
Apr 25, 2011
Catalog #
CC72516
UPC
0608917251623

About



ITALIAN CONCERTOS AND SONATAS • Stephen Stubbs, cond; Lucia Swarts (vc); Teatro Lirico (period instruments) • CHALLENGE 72516 (3 CDs: 181:10)


Works by BOCCHERINI, JACCHINI, LEO, PLATTI, PORPORA, VIVALDI


This appears to be the third time around for the works on this disc, having been recorded back in 1997–99, and released individually by Challenge Classics then and once more in 2004–2007. This time, though, all of the works are available on a three-disc set, a sort of compendium, even though the programming becomes a bit more generic than one might expect. Lucia Swarts, a protégée of famed cellist Anner Bylsma, follows her mentor closely in style, with dexterous rapid passages and a sonorous, soaring, lyrical line as appropriate. Brian Robins reviewed the first disc, the Italian concertos, back in 2003, and the others have generally received excellent reviews for her performance in several online venues, so there is little to add here, save for my own immediate reactions.


First, Challenge Classics made no effort in the booklet notes to unify the release. All three of the previous discs’ notes are given verbatim side by side, and there is no overarching continuity or explaining just what “Italian concertos and sonatas” means in this context. On the other hand, despite the incongruity of the works, each has its own special purpose. The first disc is a compendium of concertos from about 1700 to 1730, an excellent means of demonstrating how this instrument came to prominence as a solo during this period. The first Platti concerto in C Major is more of a concerto grosso, with the solo instrument playing in the episodes of the ritornello, emerging as a textural contrast. The Leo concerto, on the other hand, has some extremely difficult passagework in the two fast movements, all of which foreshadow the more virtuosic lines of composer-cellists like Boccherini later in the century. Each of these varies between three and four movements, as one might expect of the late Baroque period, but there is ironically more of a hint of the emerging galant in the second Platti and the Leo, both of which straddle the stylistic periods. Here, the Teatro Lirico period-instrument orchestra provides a good background, with a fine sense of nuanced style and an excellent ensemble.


For the two sonata discs, the term “worlds apart” can distinguish them. Vivaldi writes four-movement works that are interesting but not especially unique. To be sure, he writes long lyrical lines and uses a fair amount of rhythmic syncopation. But it is Vivaldi, and he is deliberately writing apparently for well-trained but non-virtuoso musicians. There is of course no evidence that these were composed for the Ospedale della Pietà, where he worked for many years, but the style may be telling. For the Boccherini, however, we enter a time where the instrument’s potential had been released, thanks to that composer’s technical prowess, including the extensive use of the thumb position. The four sonatas are tours de force , often requiring extreme ranges and double- or triple-stop passages. I am particularly impressed by the first movement of the Sonata No. 2 in C Major, with figuration that really makes the performer sweat. All of these Swarts performs with an ease that is exceptional. One final word about the continuo on these two discs. In the Vivaldi, she expands the size, which I find gives a nice contrasting resonance to the character of the individual movements, while in the Boccherini she has chosen to have it performed by a continuo cello, ably played by Richte van der Meer, and a plucked instrument, varying between guitar in the fast movements and theorbo in the slow. I am not convinced by the musicological arguments for this arrangement, but from a musical standpoint, the results are eminently satisfactory. Indeed, for Boccherini, who spent so much time in Spain, there is more than a nice echo of Iberia in the opening Allegro militaire of the third sonata, with its marchlike rhythms for which the guitar is a perfect accompaniment. If you don’t already own these individually, this set is a good way to incorporate some great pieces from the 18th century into your collection.


FANFARE: Bertil van Boer

Tracklist 56 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 I. Allegro 02:49
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Giovanni Benedetto Platti
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  3. 2 II. Largo 01:49
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Giovanni Benedetto Platti
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  4. 3 III. Presto 02:33
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Giovanni Benedetto Platti
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  5. 4 I. Largo 03:02
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Nicola Porpora
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  6. 5 II. Allegro 03:04
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Nicola Porpora
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  7. 6 III. Adagio 01:17
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Adagio
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Nicola Porpora
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  8. 7 IV. Allegro 03:41
    Track
    7
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    03:41
    Composer
    Nicola Porpora
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  9. 8 I. Allegro 03:40
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  10. 9 II. Largo 02:45
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  11. 10 III. Allegro 03:18
    Track
    10
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:18
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  12. 11 I. Presto 01:34
    Track
    11
    Title
    I. Presto
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Giuseppe Maria Jacchini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  13. 12 II. Grave 00:53
    Track
    12
    Title
    II. Grave
    Duration
    00:53
    Composer
    Giuseppe Maria Jacchini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  14. 13 III. Presto e solo 01:40
    Track
    13
    Title
    III. Presto e solo
    Duration
    01:40
    Composer
    Giuseppe Maria Jacchini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  15. 14 I. Adagio e staccato - Allegro 04:45
    Track
    14
    Title
    I. Adagio e staccato - Allegro
    Duration
    04:45
    Composer
    Giovanni Benedetto Platti
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  16. 15 II. [Largo] 04:08
    Track
    15
    Title
    II. [Largo]
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    Giovanni Benedetto Platti
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  17. 16 III. Presto 04:40
    Track
    16
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    04:40
    Composer
    Giovanni Benedetto Platti
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  18. 17 I. Andante grazioso 04:32
    Track
    17
    Title
    I. Andante grazioso
    Duration
    04:32
    Composer
    Leonardo Leo
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  19. 18 II. Con spirito 03:20
    Track
    18
    Title
    II. Con spirito
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Leonardo Leo
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  20. 19 III. Amoroso 03:10
    Track
    19
    Title
    III. Amoroso
    Duration
    03:10
    Composer
    Leonardo Leo
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  21. 20 IV. Allegro 03:40
    Track
    20
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    Leonardo Leo
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts
    Ensemble
    Teatro Lirico
    Conductor
    Stephen Stubbs
  22. Disc 2
  23. 1 I. Preludio: Largo 03:57
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Preludio: Largo
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  24. 2 II. Allemanda: Allegro 02:00
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allemanda: Allegro
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  25. 3 III. Largo 03:04
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  26. 4 IV. Corrente: Allegro 02:02
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Corrente: Allegro
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  27. 5 I. Largo 03:45
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  28. 6 II. Allegro 02:44
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  29. 7 III. Largo 03:49
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  30. 8 IV. Allegro 02:48
    Track
    8
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  31. 9 I. Largo 02:40
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  32. 10 II. Allegro 02:20
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  33. 11 III. Largo 02:50
    Track
    11
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  34. 12 IV. Allegro 01:58
    Track
    12
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    01:58
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  35. 13 I. Largo 03:26
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  36. 14 II. Allegro 02:43
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  37. 15 III. Largo 02:58
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  38. 16 IV. Allegro 01:28
    Track
    16
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  39. 17 I. Preludio: Largo 02:09
    Track
    17
    Title
    I. Preludio: Largo
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  40. 18 II. Allemanda: Allegro 02:12
    Track
    18
    Title
    II. Allemanda: Allegro
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  41. 19 III. Largo 02:24
    Track
    19
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    02:24
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  42. 20 IV. Corrente 02:29
    Track
    20
    Title
    IV. Corrente
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  43. 21 I. Largo 02:34
    Track
    21
    Title
    I. Largo
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  44. 22 II. Allegro 02:23
    Track
    22
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  45. 23 III. Largo 03:51
    Track
    23
    Title
    III. Largo
    Duration
    03:51
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  46. 24 IV. Allegro 02:34
    Track
    24
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Robert Franenberg, Richte van der Meer, Siebe Henstra
  47. Disc 3
  48. 1 I. Allegro alla Militaire 05:17
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro alla Militaire
    Duration
    05:17
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer, Stephen Stubbs
  49. 2 II. Largo 03:32
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer, Stephen Stubbs
  50. 3 III. Menuetto 03:50
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Menuetto
    Duration
    03:50
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer, Stephen Stubbs
  51. 4 I. Allegro moderato 05:00
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    05:00
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer
  52. 5 II. Largo 03:32
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer
  53. 6 III. Allegro 03:55
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer
  54. 7 II. Allegro 05:16
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    05:16
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer
  55. 8 I. Adagio 04:33
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:33
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer
  56. 9 III. Affettuoso 04:24
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Affettuoso
    Duration
    04:24
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer
  57. 10 I. Allegro 05:00
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:00
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer
  58. 11 II. Largo 03:41
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    03:41
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer
  59. 12 III. Allegro moderato 03:55
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Luigi Boccherini
    Performer
    Lucia Swarts, Stephen Stubbs, Richte van der Meer