Ensemble Aurora – The Fiery Genius (2017) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz]

The central role of Naples in the history of vocal music has so far overshadowed a rich tradition of instrumental music; only in recent years has musicological research begun bringing it to light once more, demonstrating that Naples also played a crucial role in the field of instrumental music, no less relevant than other centres more often associated with this repertory, such as Rome and Venice.

This album presents a voyage of discovery into a musical heritage that is even less known, but of the highest value. The new project conceived by Enrico Gatti focuses on the specific scoring for three or four violins (without viola) and continuo which was so typical of the Neapolitan School. Precious gems are unearthed here (including the only solo violin sonata by Giovanni Carlo Cailò, in its first modern recording), and this programme makes many different exponents of Neapolitan instrumental composition accessible to a wider public, from the generation of Pietro Marchitelli (slightly older than Corelli) and Giovanni Carlo Cailò to Francesco Paolo Supriani, Angelo Ragazzi, Nicola Fiorenza and Leonardo Leo – contemporaries of Bach, Tartini and Locatelli, yet who are revealed as possessing a completely different style, at a time when Naples was one of the great European capitals. The musical forms range from church sonatas in the strict style to concertos of more modern conception, thus providing an enjoyable and varied listening experience. (c) Arcana

Tracklist:

01. Concerto per 4 violini e basso continuo: I. Maestoso – Enrico Gatti, Joanna Huszcza, Marie Rouquié, Sebastiano Airoldi
02. Concerto per 4 violini e basso continuo: II. Fuga (Allegro moderato) – Enrico Gatti, Joanna Huszcza, Marie Rouquié, Sebastiano Airoldi
03. Concerto per 4 violini e basso continuo: III. [Siciliana] – Enrico Gatti, Joanna Huszcza, Marie Rouquié, Sebastiano Airoldi
04. Concerto per 4 violini e basso continuo: IV. Allegro – Enrico Gatti, Joanna Huszcza, Marie Rouquié, Sebastiano Airoldi
05. Sonata per violino e basso continuo: I. Adagio – Enrico Gatti
06. Sonata per violino e basso continuo: II. Canzona – Enrico Gatti
07. Sonata per violino e basso continuo: III. Adagio – Enrico Gatti
08. Sonata per violino e basso continuo: IV. Allegro – Enrico Gatti
09. Sonata per violino e basso continuo: V. Adagio – Enrico Gatti
10. Sonata per violino e basso continuo: VI. Allegro – Enrico Gatti
11. Sonata per due violini e basso No. 8: I. Grave – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié
12. Sonata per due violini e basso No. 8: II. [Allegro] – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié
13. Sonata per due violini e basso No. 8: III. Grave – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié
14. Sonata per due violini e basso No. 8: IV. [Allegro] – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié
15. Concerto di violini e basso: I. Andante largo – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza, Marie Rouquié
16. Concerto di violini e basso: II. Allegro – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza, Marie Rouquié
17. Concerto di violini e basso: III. Largo – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza, Marie Rouquié
18. Concerto di violini e basso: IV. Presto – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza, Marie Rouquié
19. Toccata No. 5 a violoncello solo con la sua diminuzione – Gaetano Nasillo
20. Sonata a tre violini e organo: I. Largo assai – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza
21. Sonata a tre violini e organo: II. Allemanda (Allegro assai) – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza
22. Sonata a tre violini e organo: III. Allegro e non presto – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza
23. Sonata a tre violini e organo: IV. Andante – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza
24. Sonata a tre violini e organo: V. Allegro – Enrico Gatti, Sebastiano Airoldi, Joanna Huszcza
25. Sonata à due violini e cembalo: I. Adagio – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié
26. Sonata à due violini e cembalo: II. Allegro – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié
27. Sonata à due violini e cembalo: III. Adagio – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié
28. Sonata à due violini e cembalo: IV. Allegro – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié
29. Sonata No. 2 per tre violini e basso: I. Adagio-Allegro-Adagio-Allegro-Adagio – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié, Joanna Huszcza
30. Sonata No. 2 per tre violini e basso: II. Presto – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié, Joanna Huszcza
31. Sonata No. 2 per tre violini e basso: III. Adagio – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié, Joanna Huszcza
32. Sonata No. 2 per tre violini e basso: IV. [Allegro] – Enrico Gatti, Marie Rouquié, Joanna Huszcza