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Brilliant Classics

Valentine: Chamber Music

$12.99

Details

Composer
Roberto Valentini
Artist
Enrico Casularo, Anna Kirchmeier, Jonathan Nubel, Ensemble Afflatus
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Jan 23, 2026
Catalog #
BRI97683
UPC
5028421976839

About

New recordings of High-Baroque concertos and sonatas by a forgotten English composer living in 18th-century Rome. Born in Leicester around 1673, Robert Valentine came from a family of musicians, but found his vocation and his career path once he moved to Rome in his 20s. Working as a violinist and flautist for several churches, he was evidently proficient in several other instruments such as the oboe, and quickly found his feet as a composer with an ear for public taste, and the ability to translate his instrumental virtuosity into original invention on the page. The present album takes a representative sample of that fluent invention with sonatas and 'concertos' (also written for chamber forces) from several different collections. A Sonata for two recorders holds instant appeal for anyone captivated by Vivaldi's writing for the instrument. A Concerto in B flat, for recorder, two violins and ensemble, is worthy of comparison with the work of the Venetian master, for it's brilliance and intensity. By contrast, the style of the 'Concerto con Flauto Traversiero' leans towards a crystalline simplicity, well suited to the delicate sound of the transverse flute of the period, and capable of producing those chiaroscuro effects and dynamic nuances that the recorder lacks. In each case, Valentine writes sensitively for his chosen forces. A pair of sonatas for flute and basso continuo, published in 1735 as part of Valentine's Op.13, are effectively elegant Baroque dance-suites - whereas an Op.13 published elsewhere under Valentine's name includes a violin sonata written in the galant style, full of rustic fanfares and flourishes. Founded and led by the flautist Enrico Casularo, Ensemble Afflatus specialises in the performance and recording of little-known, often unpublished music from 18th-century Italy. Casulero is also an editor of this repertoire, and a teacher of Baroque flute at the Santa Cecilia conservatoire in Rome. He is joined here by colleagues with no less expertise in the repertoire, and the album makes an ideal introduction to the art of Robert Valentine.

Tracklist 26 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro 03:13
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    03:13
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  2. 2 II. Largo 03:31
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    03:31
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  3. 3 III. Presto 02:58
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  4. 4 IV. Affettuoso 01:32
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Affettuoso
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  5. 5 I. Adagio 02:15
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    02:15
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  6. 6 II. Allegro 01:46
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  7. 7 III. Adagio 01:58
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Adagio
    Duration
    01:58
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  8. 8 IV. Giga allegro 02:11
    Track
    8
    Title
    IV. Giga allegro
    Duration
    02:11
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  9. 9 V. Allegro 02:13
    Track
    9
    Title
    V. Allegro
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  10. 10 I. Allegro 01:49
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Jonathan Nubel
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  11. 11 II. Andante 02:36
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Jonathan Nubel
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  12. 12 III. Allegro 02:03
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Jonathan Nubel
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  13. 13 I. Adagio 01:42
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  14. 14 II. Allegro 01:10
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  15. 15 III. Adagio 01:47
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Adagio
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  16. 16 IV. Allegro 01:24
    Track
    16
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  17. 17 V. Minuetto allegro 00:50
    Track
    17
    Title
    V. Minuetto allegro
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  18. 18 I. Adagio 01:23
    Track
    18
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Anne Kirchmeier, Caroline Emery
  19. 19 II. Allegro 01:39
    Track
    19
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    01:39
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Anne Kirchmeier, Caroline Emery
  20. 20 III. Adagio 01:30
    Track
    20
    Title
    III. Adagio
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Anne Kirchmeier, Caroline Emery
  21. 21 IV. Giga allegro 01:51
    Track
    21
    Title
    IV. Giga allegro
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Anne Kirchmeier, Caroline Emery
  22. 22 V. Minuetto: Allegro 01:10
    Track
    22
    Title
    V. Minuetto: Allegro
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Anne Kirchmeier, Caroline Emery
  23. 23 I. Adagio 03:20
    Track
    23
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  24. 24 II. Allegro 04:21
    Track
    24
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    04:21
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  25. 25 IIII. Adagio 03:46
    Track
    25
    Title
    IIII. Adagio
    Duration
    03:46
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo
  26. 26 IV. Allegro 04:38
    Track
    26
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Roberto Valentini
    Performer
    Enrico Casularo
    Ensemble
    Ensemble Afflatus
    Conductor
    Enrico Casularo