Italian Serenades - Paisiello, Rossini, Mayr, Righini

Mayr, Johann Simon, Paisiello, Giovanni, Righini, Vincenzo, Rossini, Gioachino, różni kompozytorzy

Consortium Classicum

CPO 777 650-2

On its latest CD the Consortium Classicum presents entertaining Italian serenades by Rossini, Righini, Paisiello, and others. The term »serenade« derives from the Italian word serenata, which designates a musical genre of light, serene, and tranquil character but with the potential for brilliance and sparkling wit. It is only natural that such music should come from Italy, for this country's joy of life and good climate make it easy to perform music in mixed vocal-instrumental ensembles in the evening and in the open air. The age of the serenades began in the baroque era with masters such as Alessandro Stradella, Alessandro Scarlatti, and Antonio Caldara. An important communication in the Vienna Almanac of 1754 explains why wind instruments were then so important for conveying happy feelings to audiences. According to this report, musical serenades were performed practically every day, weather permitting; in keeping with Italian or Spanish tradition they were presented with voice parts and the guitar or mandolin or by small or larger wind ensembles. They are works of fresh and mirthful character, and Righini's Serenade for Wind Sextet, here in a world-premiere recording, stands out in this department. In contrast to the other sextets on this CD, this work contains various demanding passages for the horns, which engage in virtuoso dialogue with the clarinet.

CD x 1

CPO

8/27/13

761203765027