The Musical Treasures of Leufsta Bruk II

In the 18th century, Leufsta Bruk – some 140 kilometres northwest of Stockholm – was the centre of a major industry producing iron both for Swedish needs and for export. It was a little principality in the middle of the forest governed by the descendants of Louis De Geer, the Belgian financier who had developed the ironworks. Highly cultured and musical, the family gathered together a remarkable collection of musical scores, a collection which mirrors the development of music and music publishing on the Continent, as well as the musical activities at a flourishing Swedish manor of the period.

Presenting a sample from the Leufsta collection, this disc contains music by international stars – Tartini and Handel – as well as less familiar names, such as the London-based German composer Gottfried Keller and the Swedish composers Johan Helmich Roman and Hinrich Philip Johnsen. Concertos, keyboard solos, sonatas and duets bear testament to the entertainments – often with the active participation of members of the De Geer family themselves – that enlivened the evenings at Leufsta in the mid-18th century. The programme closes with music that has a special connection to the church of Leufsta Bruk and its famous organ from 1728: excerpts from Johnsen’s Church Music, composed for the Easter Day service of 1757.

Bringing these musical treasures to life is the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble, whose many recordings on BIS have created a following around the world. Released in 1985 their version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, with soloist Nils-Erik Sparf, is still considered one of the classic recordings of this work. More recently the forerunner of the present disc (Musical Treasures of Leufsta Bruk I, BIS-CD-1526) was described as a ‘superbly performed … unique collection of pieces demonstrating an eclectic and aristocratic taste of the early 18th century’ by the reviewer on the website MusicWeb International.

The Musical Treasures of Leufsta Bruk I

In the 18th century, Leufsta Bruk – some 140 kilometres northwest of Stockholm – was the centre of a major industry producing iron both for Swedish needs and for export. It was a little principality in the middle of the forest governed by the descendants of Louis De Geer, a Belgian financier who developed the ironworks. The family was highly cultured and musical, and in particular Charles De Geer, a noted scientist as well as industrialist, contributed greatly to the remarkable collection of musical scores at Leufsta. These scores were to a large extent brought from Amsterdam and mirror the development of music and music publishing on the continent, as well as the musical activities at a flourishing Swedish manor of the period.

Not surprisingly the collection – and this disc – contains music by well-known composers such as Vivaldi and Tartini, but there are also rarely heard works, for various instrumental combinations. Duets, keyboard solos, trio sonatas and the charming collection of ‘Boer Dances’ bear testament to the entertainments – often with the active participation of members of the De Geer family themselves – that enlivened the evenings at Leufsta in the mid-18th century.

Bringing these musical treasures to life is the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble, whose many recordings on BIS have created a following around the world. Released in 1985 their version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, with soloist Nils-Erik Sparf, is considered one of the classic recordings of this work. A much later disc, Telemann’s Don Quixotte (BIS-CD-1226) was recommended by the Spanish magazine CD Compact, and received a 5 star review in BBC Music Magazine, containing the following words of praise: 'the Drottningholm musicians capture all with admirable esprit and no breaches of stylistic decorum.' The same may safely be said about the present recording.

Tartini: Concertos

Long regarded as a mere "transitional figure" between Corelli and Boccherini, Giuseppe Tartini had to await the very end of the 20th century (and recordings like this one) to be judged at this true worth: as a composer of the very first rank and a violinist of genius. He was also a pedagogue much envied by Leopold Mozart, who plagiarised him copiously. With 130 concertos and 200 sonatas for violin, his musical achievement speaks for itself.

‘Tartini therefore abandoned the rowdy muddles that
deafen the ears and bewilder the brain,
which, imported into Italy the Teutonic craze to ruin good
taste, to this very day enjoy, by
what blindness or fanaticism I know not, so much applause
in the Academies…’
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Tartini: Violin Concertos

'In every way this disc is superior to any Tartini recording I've ever heard: the soloist is in breathtaking form … in the quiet repose sometimes offered by the slow movements she and her wonderful continuo team are as eloquent as can be. One of my favourite discs this month' --Early Music Review)

'The soloist, Elizabeth Wallfisch, strikes a balance between ebullience and refinement. She makes a sweet sound' --The Evening Standard

'Wallfisch endows the music with the virtuosity and quasi-improvisatory immediacy that is the essence of this tradition … plenty of pizzazz … these concertos never fail to captivate' --San Francisco Chronicle

'Both the music and performances on this disc will stimulate anyone with more than a passing interest in violin music and its performance' --The Irish Times

MP3 320 · 151 MB

Italian Violin Sonatas

Editor's Choice - Gramophone September 2003

"Fabio Biondi - a musical maverick if ever there was one - presents an enticing collection of violin sonatas with a suitably imaginative line-up of continuo instruments in support. All the composers here - Veracini, Locatelli, Mascitti, Geminiani and Tartini - seem to have been influenced and inspired by the towering example of the great Arcangelo Corelli, a truly extraordinary violinist. If you've ever been to a Biondi concert you'll know quite how many sparks fly. If not, do try this thrilling disc." --Gramophone

MP3 320 · 155 MB

Concertos Baroques Italiens

'In the hands of Maurice André, the solo trumpet became a vehicle for the musical taste, panache and technical flexibility usually associated with the greatest of classical pianists, violinists, cellists, oboists and flautists.' --Jonathan Freeman-Attwood

MP3 320 ·157 MB

Concerto veneziano: Vivaldi, Locatelli, Tartini

"All this is well caught by the rich and detailed recording, as is Carmignola . . . there's a lot of character, together with a sweet and focused sound. He's very careful with vibrato and articulation, and his rubato bends the pulse without breaking it . . . The Locatelli . . . gives Carmignola an opportunity for fireworks . . . he's technically on top of everything, and the trumpet-like sound of his first entry in the Tartini is a real feat of tonal control . . ." --BBC Music Magazine

"This disc is really something special . . . This disc stands out for imaginative repertoire selection and outstanding interpretation . . . Do yourself a favor and buy this magnificently played, perfectly recorded disc. It's an instant classic." --ClassicsToday.com


". . . Carmignola is a terrific violinist whose technique and intonation are as near flawless as one has any right to expect. His tone, neither too fat nor too spare, is ravishing, drawn out in cantilenas llike an exquisitely spun silver thread that never shows the slightest sign of insecurity . . . So moving, so touching . . . this movement alone should be heard not only by every aspiring violinist, but also by every singer, who will learn much about control and phrasing from the playing . . . the playing is dazzling . . . lovely violin-playing will (and certainly should) attract widespread interest in a disc that is in many ways a wondrous achievement . . ." --Fanfare

MP3 320 · 148 MB

Tartini: Violin Concertos

'Toso plays impeccably, tempering tone and vibrato in extracting every drop of the essential character of each movement... a superb recording' -- Gramophone

"Tartini’s understanding of the possibilities of 18th-century violin technique make his richly idiomatic music great fun to play. He also composed many concertos for his own instrument, five of which are included on this splendid recording from 1970.

Not even an Italian orchestra would play this music in quite such a Romantic way today, and yet of all Italian violinist-composers, Tartini’s music seems to suffer least from an anachronistically lush approach to the solo lines. Perhaps I was just won over by the eloquence of Piero Toso’s phrasing, which is especially delightful in the slow movements." --Stephen Maddock, BBC Music Magazine

MP3 320 · 151 MB

Haydn, Mozart, Boccherini, Tartini: Works for Cello & Strings

Founded by cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky, I Musici de Montréal is a chamber orchestra of 15 musicians that performs a vast repertoire extending from the Baroque to the Contemporary, and is among the most important touring orchestras in Canada.

“The Incredible String Band” --The Independent, London

“I Musici de Montréal is a decidedly virtuoso group” --South China Morning Post, Hong-Kong

“Whiplash precision and tension” --Stereo Review, New York

MP3 320 · 123 MB

Concertos pour Violon

Better known in Europe than in North America, Jean-Jacques Kantorow is a noted violinist who has made a transition to conducting, administration, and teaching.

Concertos for Violin features some of the most virtuosic violin concertos in the repertory by Felix Mendelssohn, Giuseppe Tartini, Jean-Marie Leclair and Pietro Antonio Locatelli

MP3 320 · 137 MB