Trio Sonatas

'In his compositions the intention of pleasing the ear and of satisfying the intellect is evident, leaving to the vain and the pedantic everything that strikes, stupifies and puzzles.' This was the comment of Charles Burney about Johann Adolf Hasse after they had met in September 1773 in Vienna. Hasse was a prolific composer whose music dominated the European stages for almost half a century, before being challenged by the followers of the new style brought in by Gluck and Calzabigi. His posthumous reputation was not helped by the fact that the major part of his instrumental works was lost when his publishers' house in Leipzig was bombarded during the Seven Years War. Ironically, the man who ordered the bombardment was none other than Frederick II, the same monarch who had commissioned many of Hasse's works.

The delightful instrumental works by Hasse on this recording are performed by one of Europe's premiere period instrument ensembles. Epoca Barocca has performed with many of the biggest names in Early Music. Its strength lies in its flexible line-up which allows it to perform unusual works scored for a variety of instrumental combinations.