Italian Violin Sonatas

Italian Violin Sonatas
Composer Antonio Bazzini, Domenico Bartolucci, Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, Ferruccio Busoni, Franco Margola, Francesco Santoliquido, Guido Antonio Santórsola, Leone Sinigaglia, Michele Esposito, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mario Pilati, Ottorino Respighi, Riccardo Malipiero
Artist Various Artists
Format 7 CD
Cat. number 97323
EAN code 5028421973234
Release November 2024

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About this release

A unique collection of Italian violin sonatas from the 19th and 20th centuries in stylish, native, modern studio recordings.
The chamber-music traditions of France and Italy are being comprehensively explored by Brilliant Classics in boxes dedicated to violin and cello sonatas composed by celebrated and unfamiliar composers. In composing violin sonatas during the 19th and 20th centuries, Italian composers were naturally drawing on an unrivalled heritage of violinistic writing dating back not only to Paganini but to the virtuoso violinists of the Baroque era, such as Corelli and Geminiani.
By the middle of the 19th century, however, the sonata for two instruments had become associated with forms and styles developed in Germany and Austria, especially in the generations after Beethoven. Italian composers sought to balance these influences in their own writing; to demonstrate a fusion of native-Italian cantabile writing for the violin with larger-scale ambitions of form adopted from Germany.
The composers in this set all accomplished such a fusion in their own style. As a phenomenal virtuoso himself, Antonio Bazzini wrote primarily with display in mind, yet his Sonata is elegant constructed along Classical lines.
Ferruccio Busoni had moved to Germany by the time he wrote his pivotal Second Sonata, but the wild spirit of the tarantella still infuses its Scherzo. He and Respighi both drew on Bach and the Baroque era as a source of inspiration for a new spirit of neoclassicism.
Meanwhile other composers such as Wolf-Ferrari and Pilati wrote long-breathed narratives in a Brahmsian vein. Even well into the 20th century, Brahms remained the model for chamber-music composers who rejected modernist fragmentation, such as Sinigaglia and Bartolucci.
The rich chromaticism of César Franck held its own attractions for composers such as Margola who were more open to Wagnerian innovation. A Parisian influence can be felt on several composers such as Esposito and Santoliquido. Finally a knottier approach to harmony in the vein of Bartok’s writing for the violin brings the sonatas by Castenuovo-Tedesco and Riccardo Malipiero up to date with their own times.
All these recordings are drawn from previous Brilliant Classics albums which have been praised for the finesse of their engineering and performances. Compiled in this box, with a new essay by
Peter Quantrill, they tell a vividly engaging story of the evolution of the Italian violin sonata across a century and more.

- A new instalment in the series “Italian Romantics”, paying tribute to the rich heritage of instrumental (as opposed to vocal, operatic) music by Italian composers in the Romantic/Late-Romantic era.
- This comprehensive 7-CD set presents violin sonatas by Bazzini (1818-1897), Busoni (1866-1924), Castenuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968), Esposito (1913-1981), Malipiero (1882-1973), Margola (1908-1992), Pilati (1903-1938), Respighi (1879-1936), Santoliquido (1883-1971), Santorsola (1904-1994), Scalero (1870-1954), Sinigaglia (1868-1944) and Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948). A generous survey of full-blooded romantic music, often rooted in German Romanticism but always ablaze with Mediterranean passion and warmth.
- Played by Italian musicians of international renown: Mauro Tortorelli, Luca Fanfoni, Davide Alogna, Fabrizio Falasca, Carmelo Andriani and others.

Track list

Disk 1

  1. Ottorino Respighi: Violin Sonata in D Minor, P.15: I. Lento – Allegro – Lento – Assai animato
  2. Ottorino Respighi: Violin Sonata in D Minor, P.15: II. Adagio
  3. Ottorino Respighi: Violin Sonata in D Minor, P.15: III. Scherzo. Allegretto
  4. Ottorino Respighi: 6 Pieces for Violin and Piano, P.31: I. Berceuse
  5. Ottorino Respighi: 6 Pieces for Violin and Piano, P.31: II. Melodia
  6. Ottorino Respighi: 6 Pieces for Violin and Piano, P.31: III. Leggenda
  7. Ottorino Respighi: 6 Pieces for Violin and Piano, P.31: IV. Valse caressante
  8. Ottorino Respighi: 6 Pieces for Violin and Piano, P.31: V. Serenata
  9. Ottorino Respighi: 6 Pieces for Violin and Piano, P.31: VI. Aria
  10. Ottorino Respighi: Violin Sonata in B Minor, P.110: I. Moderato
  11. Ottorino Respighi: Violin Sonata in B Minor, P.110: II. Andante espressivo
  12. Ottorino Respighi: Violin Sonata in B Minor, P.110: III. Allegro moderato ma energico

Disk 2

  1. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in G Minor No. 1, Op. 1: I. Sostenuto – Allegro appassionato quasi presto
  2. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in G Minor No. 1, Op. 1: Lento senza tempo
  3. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in G Minor No. 1, Op. 1: Sostenuto – Allegro ma non troppo e con spirito
  4. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in A Minor, No. 2, Op. 10: I. Appassionato
  5. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in A Minor, No. 2, Op. 10: II. Recitativo – Sostenuto con amore, semplicemente
  6. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in E Major, No. 3, Op. 27: I. Allegro moderato
  7. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in E Major, No. 3, Op. 27: II. Andantino con innocenza
  8. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in E Major, No. 3, Op. 27: III. Agitato con passione
  9. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Violin Sonata in E Major, No. 3, Op. 27: IV. Allegro molto con fuoco piu allegro del primo tempo

Disk 3

  1. Ferruccio Busoni: Violin Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 29: I. Allegro deciso
  2. Ferruccio Busoni: Violin Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 29: II. Molto sostenuto
  3. Ferruccio Busoni: Violin Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 29: III. Allegro molto e deciso
  4. Ferruccio Busoni: Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 36a: I. Langsam
  5. Ferruccio Busoni: Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 36a: II. Presto
  6. Ferruccio Busoni: Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 36a: III. Andante piuttosto grave
  7. Ferruccio Busoni: Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 36a: IV. Alla marcia vivace
  8. Ferruccio Busoni: Bagatelles, Op. 28: I. Aus der Zopfzeit (From the Time of the Eighteenth-Century Zopfstil)
  9. Ferruccio Busoni: Bagatelles, Op. 28: II. Kleiner Mohrentanz (Little Moorish Dance)
  10. Ferruccio Busoni: Bagatelles, Op. 28: III. Wiener Tanzweise (Viennese Dance Tune)
  11. Ferruccio Busoni: Bagatelles, Op. 28: IV. Kosakenritt (Ride of the Cossacks)

Disk 4

  1. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 32: I. Moderato
  2. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 32: II. Lento
  3. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 32: III. Allegro vivace
  4. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 46: I. Allegro moderato
  5. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 46: II. Andantino
  6. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 46: III. Allegro con fuoco
  7. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 67: I. Affettuosamente
  8. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 67: II. Allegretto moderato
  9. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 67: III. Andante cantabile
  10. Michele Esposito: Violin Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 67: IV. Allegretto grazioso

Disk 5

  1. Guido Antonio Santórsola: Sonata for Violin & Piano: I. Con sofferenza
  2. Guido Antonio Santórsola: Sonata for Violin & Piano: II. Andante espressivo
  3. Guido Antonio Santórsola: Sonata for Violin & Piano: III. Deciso
  4. Francesco Santoliquido: Sonata in A Minor for Violin & Piano: I. Allegro deciso e impetuoso
  5. Francesco Santoliquido: Sonata in A Minor for Violin & Piano: II. Andante piuttosto lento
  6. Francesco Santoliquido: Sonata in A Minor for Violin & Piano: III. Vivo e tempestoso
  7. Domenico Bartolucci: Sonata in G Major for Violin & Piano: I. Allegro moderato
  8. Domenico Bartolucci: Sonata in G Major for Violin & Piano: II. Andante sostenuto
  9. Domenico Bartolucci: Sonata in G Major for Violin & Piano: III. Vivo e vigoroso
  10. Domenico Bartolucci: Sonata in G Major for Violin & Piano: IV. Allegro con brio

Disk 6

  1. Antonio Bazzini: Violin Sonata, Op. 55: I. Allegro deciso
  2. Antonio Bazzini: Violin Sonata, Op. 55: II. Andante con moto
  3. Antonio Bazzini: Violin Sonata, Op. 55: III. Finale
  4. Franco Margola: Sonata in D Major, dC12 for Violin and Piano: I. Sostenuto, andante, poco sostenuto
  5. Franco Margola: Sonata in D Major, dC12 for Violin and Piano: II. Lento
  6. Franco Margola: Sonata in D Major, dC12 for Violin and Piano: III. Vivace
  7. Riccardo Malipiero: Sonata for Violin and Piano: I. Moderato
  8. Riccardo Malipiero: Sonata for Violin and Piano: II. Molto presto
  9. Riccardo Malipiero: Sonata for Violin and Piano: III. Molto lento
  10. Riccardo Malipiero: Sonata for Violin and Piano: IV. Deciso, ma a cadenza

Disk 7

  1. Mario Pilati: Sonata in F Minor for Violin and Piano: I. Allegro sostenuto
  2. Mario Pilati: Sonata in F Minor for Violin and Piano: II. Allegretto comodo (molto moderato)
  3. Mario Pilati: Sonata in F Minor for Violin and Piano: III. Largo, ma non troppo
  4. Leone Sinigaglia: Violin Sonata in G Major, Op. 44: I. Allegro moderato
  5. Leone Sinigaglia: Violin Sonata in G Major, Op. 44: II. Adagio
  6. Leone Sinigaglia: Violin Sonata in G Major, Op. 44: III. Allegro con spirito
  7. Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Sonata quasi una fantasia, Op. 56: I. Prologo (Moderato e pensoso)
  8. Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Sonata quasi una fantasia, Op. 56: II. Intermezzo (Vivace e danzante)
  9. Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Sonata quasi una fantasia, Op. 56: III. Epilogo (Calmo)