Gaetano & Giuseppe Donizetti: Chamber Music with Clarinet

Gaetano & Giuseppe Donizetti: Chamber Music with Clarinet
Composer Gaetano Donizetti
Artist Luigi Magistrelli clarinet
Italian Classical Consort
Format 2 CD
Cat. number 97532
EAN code 5028421975320
Release August 2025

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About this release

Gaetano Donizetti was one of the most distinguished Italian composers of the first half of the 19th century. At that time, opera was the preeminent musical genre in Italy, and many top composers based their careers on it. Unlike his contemporary Italian opera composers, though, Gaetano Donizetti also devoted his art to chamber music, producing a good number of excellent works. Between 1814 and 1821, he wrote a number of interesting compositions that included both obligato clarinet or two clarinets in C, as well as demanding parts for basset horn. The voices of soprano and tenor are involved, even in a duet (Aria De Torrente). This album is indebted to Nico Bertelli for his research and publications concerning classical and early romantic arias with clarinet, and to Italian researcher Adriano Amore.
 
Giuseppe Donizetti (a.k.a. Donizetti Pasha) was Gaetano Donizetti’s older brother. He was a talented child and received lessons from Simon Mayr, the same teacher as his brother. In 1825, he became music master of an Austrian regiment stationed in Italy. In 1831, the Turkish sultan asked him to form the military band of his empire along the Central European lines. He managed to win great esteem and favour from the sultan, transferring the musical style of Italian music to the shores of the Bosporus with great success. He died in Constantinople on 12 February 1856. Giuseppe Donizetti wrote a large amount of music for military bands in many different combinations, but only a few of those works reached his homeland. There are also some vocal works and shorter piano pieces, published in Milan and Florence.

- Recorded September 2023 in Cesano Maderno and in Ticino, Italy
- Booklet in English contains liner notes by Luigi Magistrelli and profiles of the soloists and the ensemble

- A delightful program of works featuring the clarinet in various settings by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), one of the greatest opera composers of 19th century Italy, and his brother Giuseppe Donizetti (1788-1856), who was a military music master of an Austrian regiment stationed in Italy. In 1831 the Turkish Sultan asked him to form his empire's military band along central European lines. He was able to gain high esteem and favor from the Sultan, transferring the musical style of Italian music on the shores of the Bosphorus with great success. He died in Constantinople on 10 February 1856.
- The program is highly varied and ranges from works for solo clarinet to arias for voices, clarinet and piano, and a wind sextet.
Brilliantly performed by Luigi Magistrelli, one of the leading clarinet players of Italy, seconded by a fine selection of Italian soloists. Magistrelli made many recordings for Brilliant Classics with works by C.P.E. Bach (95307), Giuliani (95541), Kummer (94472), Archduke Rudolph (94952), Rebay (94171) and Fuchs (96305). ‘Luigi Magistrelli is a skilled artist, with the fingers and the enthusiasm for Weber.’ Gramophone.

Track list

Disk 1

  1. Giuseppe Donizetti: The Battle for Military Music: I. Allegretto-Allegretto-Allegro-Allegro-Andante Maestoso-Allegretto-Allegro Finale
  2. Gaetano Donizetti: Laudamus te
  3. Gaetano Donizetti: De torrente Duet
  4. Gaetano Donizetti: Qui tollis
  5. Gaetano Donizetti: Variations from Elisir d’amore
  6. Gaetano Donizetti: Concerto on Anna Bolena Theme “Deh non voler costringere” from Act I

Disk 2

  1. Giuseppe Donizetti: Sonata for 2 Clarinets: I. Allegro moderato
  2. Giuseppe Donizetti: Sonata for 2 Clarinets: II. Adagio
  3. Giuseppe Donizetti: Sonata for 2 Clarinets: III. Rondo allegretto
  4. Gaetano Donizetti: Studio No. 1 for Solo Clarinet
  5. Gaetano Donizetti: Studio No. 2 (Bass Clarinet)
  6. Gaetano Donizetti: Paolina e severo cavatina from Poliuto
  7. Gaetano Donizetti: Aria from Bellissario
  8. Gaetano Donizetti: Canzonetta “Or che la notte invita”
  9. Gaetano Donizetti: Larghetto
  10. Gaetano Donizetti: Sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor
  11. Gaetano Donizetti: Sonata (Andante-Allegro)