[ Decca / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 19 November 2021
This is the first album Nicola Benedetti has released on a period set-up including gut strings, and she is joined by a leading group of freelance baroque musicians, forming the Benedetti Baroque Orchestra for the very first time. The album features a selection of concerti by Vivaldi plus Geminiani's incredible arrangement of Corelli's 'La Folia', one of the oldest western classical themes which has been arranged by many composers over time, particularly in the baroque era. Geminiani was one of the greatest violinists of the era and Corelli was one of his teachers whilst growing up in Italy. Later when he moved to London, Geminiani reworked a number of Corelli's works for local audiences including this arrangement of 'La Folia'.
"Not only does Benedetti give an absolutely riveting performance (her first departure into using cat-gut strings), but if you ever want a test disc for your hi-fi, this will give it a great workout." Roger@marbecks
"Drawing on a hatful of tricks, Benedetti makes her violin sing and dance, rage and lament. Flirtatious exchanges between soloist and ensemble enhance the tonal and textural contrasts of the Dmajor work's opening movement, while Benedetti pours out its pathos-laden Larghetto in honeyed tones and sparkles in the finale's virtuosic fireworks" BBC Music Five Stars
"a vibrant set of performances with all the energy of 'Italia' but now with an unmistakably period sound, her crack ensemble providing crisply attentive support...a distinctly impressive album, whether or not you're a diehard Benedetti fan." Gramophone
"Benedetti digs deep into her strings, producing a raw, intense sound in Geminiani's Concerto Grosso in D minor...and in three carefully chosen concertos from Vivaldi's vast output…everything this artist does bristles with life, technical mastery and interpretive flair" Sunday Times
Geminiani, F: Concerto grosso after Corelli, No. 12 in D minor 'La Folia'
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto, RV 211 in D major
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto RV257 in E flat major
Vivaldi: Concerto in B minor for Violin RV386
Vivaldi: Concerto in B flat major, RV 583 - II