Recordings
Among the art treasures of Dresden is a collection of music manuscripts that in part goes back to the repertoire of the Dresden Hofkapelle, which was founded more than 450 years ago and became world famous in the 18th century. Looking through the contents of “Schrank No.II”, the former repository of the Dresden court chapel’s repertoire, one discovers about 140 instrumental compositions by Telemann from the time between about 1710 and the 1750s. The selection presented in this album again contains a number of musical discoveries that easily match the artistic standard of the Musique de table.
CD 1
- Orchestral suite in G minor for two violins, strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:g8)
- Orchestral suite in B flat major for two oboes, bassoon, strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:B11)
- Orchestral suite in A major for violin, strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:A7)
CD 2
- Orchestral suite in E minor for transverse flute, strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:e10)
- Orchestral suite in G minor for violin, strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:g7)
- Orchestral suite in F major for two horns, two oboes and bassoon colla parte, strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:F12)
All the Boccherini works presented in this recording are comparatively late. They were written in the 1780s, when the composer had already lived in Spain for many years after his travels in Europe, and represent Boccherini’s classical, mature style. The album opens with his Sinfonia Concertante in D major (G 516; Op.37 No.2) that after the Second World War was presumed lost. In fact the manuscript had been brought to the USSR with other trophy music scores. After being preserved for many years in the Manuscript Department of the Glinka State Central Museum of Musical Culture, it was finally identified and restored to life.
- Symphony (Concerto a piu strumenti obbligati) in D major, G 516 (Op.37 Nо.2) — World premiere recording
- Octet (Notturno) for flute or oboe, horn, bassoon, two violins, viola, two cellos in G major, G 470 (Op.38 No.4)
- Concerto for cello and orchestra No.10 in D major, G 483
- Symphony in C minor, G 519 (Op.41)
The album comprises almost all known pieces by Dmitry Bortnyansky created in Italy during his study with B. Galuppi. Seven out of nine pieces are the World Premiere recordings.
- Sinfonia in C major from the opera “Il Quinto Fabio” (1778)
- Aria “Cara deh torna in pace” from the opera “Il Quinto Fabio” for soprano and orchestra
- Canzonetta “Ecco quell fiero istante” for soprano and string quintet (1778)
- Aria “Vas orner le sein de Themire” for soprano and strings (1778)
- Fuga (Studio) “Amen” for four-part choir and strings
- Motet “In convertendo Dominus” for soprano, alto, basso and strings (1777)
- Motet “Ave Maria” for soprano, alto and orchestra (1775, Napoli)
- Motet “Salve Regina” for soprano and orchestra (1776)
- Motet “Montes valles resonate” for soprano, alto, chorus and orchestra (1778)
This album contains rarely performed pieces by G. Ph. Telemann, composed in minor, including the premiere recording of Orchestral Suite in A minor.
- Orchestral Suite in A minor for two Oboes, Bassoon, Strings and Basso Continuo (TWV 55:a3) — World Premiere recording
- Sonata in F minor for two Violins, two Violas, Cello and Basso Continuo (TWV 44:32)
- Concerto in E minor for Flute, Violin, String and Basso Continuo (TWV 52:e3)
- Sonata in B-flat major for two Violins, two Violas, Cello and Basso Continuo (TWV 44:34)
- Concerto in E minor for Violin, two Flutes, Strings and Basso Continuo (TWV 53:e1)
Joseph Wölfl, who has gone down in history as “Beethoven’s rival”, wrote operas, ballets, piano and chamber music – and three symphonies. The third has been preserved only in the form of a piano reduction. The two others, that are not yet familiar to the general public, have been recorded for the first time.
- Symphony in G Minor (op. 40), Dedicated to Luigi Cherubini
- Symphony in C Major (op. 41), Dedicated to Johann Peter Salomon
- Grand Duo in D Minor for Pianoforte and Violoncello (op. 31), Dedicated to Madame Hollander
The transformation of an instrumental piece into a dance was not an extraordinary occurrence for the French Baroque theatre. In this domain it was common to sing a Chaconne or to dance an aria, court performances envisaged vocal numbers together with dances. For that reason, the appearance of Jean-Féry Rebel’s “choreographed symphonies” merits special attention: apparently these pieces were the first ballets without singing. The famous French magazine Diapason gave us 5 “diapasons” for this album—the highest score!
- Caprice (1711)
- The Elements, a new symphony (1737–1738)
- The Pastoral Pleasures (1734)
- The Dance Characters (1734)
- Fantasy (1729)
After his successes in Italy and later England Johann Christian Bach gained a reputation as one of the most authoritative musicians of the second half of the 18th century. Of course any mention of ‘the famous Bach’ referred to the junior Bach, not his father. The album opens with his Sinfonia Concertante in G major (C 45, T 286/4) that is listed as missing. In 2004 it was discovered and subsequently identified by Moscow music scholar Pavel Lutsker. This recording is a world premiere.
- Sinfonia concertante G-Dur für Oboe, Violine, Viola, Cello und Orchester (C 45; T 286/4)
- Quartett G-Dur für Violine, zwei Celli und Klavier, Op.2 (B 66; T 310/9)
- Sextett C-Dur für Oboe, zwei Hörner, Violine, Cello und Klavier, Op.3 (B 78; T 302/1)
- Sinfonie g-Moll, Op.6 Nr.6 (C 16a; T 276/3)
3 tracks are world premiere recordings.
Georg Philipp Telemann wrote more than a hundred orchestral suites. The majority of these diverse and beautifully orchestrated pieces remain unknown to the wider audience. We intend to fill the gap over the next few years by recording all the composer's works in this genre. The Pratum Integrum Orchestra and soloists from leading European music ensembles practising authentic performance will participate in the project.
In the first album: Suites in D Minor (TWV 55:d2), E Minor (TWV 55:e3) and B Minor (TWV 55:h1).
- Orchestersuite d-Moll fur Streicher, Basso Continuo, zwei Oboen und Fagott colla parte (TWV 55:d2)
- Orchestersuite e-Moll fur zwei Violinen, zwei Floten, zwei Oboen, Fagott, Streicher und Basso Continuo (TWV 55:e3)
- Orchestersuite h-Moll fur zwei Violinen, zwei Oboen, zwei Fagotte, Streicher und Basso Continuo (TWV 55:h1)
The first monographic album of Anton Ferdinand Tietz – a german violinist virtuoso and composer of XVIII century, who made his career in St. Petersburg. Tietz’ compositions were rediscovered in 1990s after a long period of obscurity.
- Symphony in C major
- Duet in C major for Violin and Cello
- Quartet in D minor for two Violins, Viola and Bass
- Quintet in D minor for two Violins, two Violas and Bass
- Concerto in E-flat major for Violin and Orchestra
All pieces are World Premiere recordings.
Telemann is one of the first composers – if not the first – to have made the genre of orchestral overture a vessel for the most diverse styles, a collection of heterogeneous elements of dance and character pieces, of description and imitation. The next generation saw Telemann as the most significant composer of overtures, who in their eyes eclipsed even the French in their own national genre. This is the third album of orchestral suites by G. P. Telemann, which again represents music little known to the public.
CD 1
- Orchestral suite in D major for strings, basso continuo, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:D12)
- Orchestral suite in B flat major for strings, basso continuo, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:B3)
- Orchestral suite in D minor for strings, basso continuo, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:d1)
CD 2
- Orchestral suite in B minor for strings, basso continuo, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:h3)
- Orchestral suite in E major for strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:E1)
- Orchestral suite in G major for violin, strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:G6)
- Orchestral Suite in B Flat Major for Two Oboes, Bassoon, Strings and Basso Continuo (TWV 55:B4) — World premiere recording
- Concerto Grosso in G Major for Strings and Basso Continuo (TWV 52:G1) — World premiere recording
- Concerto in E Major for Flute, Strings and Basso Continuo (TWV 51:E1) — World premiere recording
- Concerto in G Major for Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo (TWV 51:G4) — World premiere recording
- Concerto Grosso in G Major for Two Flutes, Bassoon, Strings and Basso Continuo (TWV 53:G1)
- Sonata in G Minor for Two Violins, Two Violas, Cello and Basso Continuo (TWV 44:33)
This album is dedicated to instrumental pieces by Dmitry Bortnyansky created in 1780s for the Court of Great Prince Pavel. The only remnant movement of the harpsichord concerto is performed in a new orchestral arrangement by Pavel Serbin.
- March in C major for two Oboes, two Horns and Bassoon devoted to Great Prince Pavel Petrovich (1787; originally in B-flat major for two Clarinets, two Horns and Bassoon. Transcription by P. Serbin, 2003). — World Premiere recording
- The works devoted to Great Princess Maria Fedorovna:
- Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major for Pianoforte, Harp, two Violins, Viola da gamba, Bassoon and Violoncello (1790)
- Three Sonatas from the “Varie Sonate di cembalo”
- Quintet in C major for Pianoforte, Harp, Violin, Viola da gamba and Violoncello (1787)
- The first movement of the vanished Concerto di cembalo in D major. Reconstruction based on clavier manuscript. Orchestral arrangements and accompaniments version by P. Serbin, 2003
All pieces are premiere recordings on historical instruments.
The second album with compositions of Austrian classical composer Joseph Wölfl (see also CM 0022005). It would be no exaggeration to say that Wölfl’s quartets Op.30 (1805) are among the best of his chamber works. They are recorded for the first time by soloists of Pratum Integrum orchestra, performing on period instruments: Dmitry Sinkovsky (violin), Sergei Filchenko (violin), Sergei Tischenko (viola) and Pavel Serbin (cello).
- Streichquartett C-Dur (Op.30 Nr.2)
- Streichquartett D-Dur (Op.30 Nr.3)
- Streichquartett Es-Dur (Op.30 Nr.1)
All tracks are world premiere recordings.
The first monographic album devoted to an outstanding Russian composer of XVIII century Maxim Berezovsky. It contains the secular works, among those – a recently discovered Sinfonia in C major (the earliest Russian symphony). Six out of eight presented works have been recorded for the first time.
- Sinfonia in C major (1770–1773; the earliest Russian symphony)
- Aria of Timante “Prudente mi chiedi” from the opera “Il Demofonte” (1773)
- Aria of Timante “Misero pargoletto” from the opera “Il Demofonte” (1773)
- Three Sonatas (in B-flat major, C major, F major) for Harpsichord
- Sonata in C major for Violin and Harpsichord (1772)
- Quartet “Cast Me Not Off in The Time of Old Age” (before 1769; transcription for Strings by P. Serbin, 2003)
Who is Giovanni Benedetto Platti? Today it is only a name, and an unknown name at that. One of many. In the 21st century, our acquaintance with Platti is just beginning—and it promises to be a moving and fascinating one.
- Concerto in G minor for oboe and orchestra
- Concerto in D major for harpsichord and orchestra
- Concerto in A major for violin and orchestra
- Concerto in G minor for violoncello and orchestra
- Trio Sonata in B flat major for violin, violoncello and basso continuo
9 tracks are world premiere recordings.
The second album with Georg Philipp Telemann’s orchestral suites contains his Six Ouvertures a 4 ou 6, which the composer united into a set and published in Hamburg in 1736. The Pratum Integrum orchestra used the original printed score for its interpretation. It was considered lost, but recently a copy has been found in the archives of the Russian State Library in Moscow. Soloists of the Zefiro ensemble, historic horn players Dileno Baldin and Francesco Meucci took part in this recording. Four out of six suites were recorded for the first time ever.
CD 1
- Orchestral suite in F major for strings, basso continuo, two horns ad libitum, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:F1)
- Orchestral suite in A major for strings and basso continuo (TWV 55:A1)
- Orchestral suite in E flat major for strings, basso continuo, two horns ad libitum, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:Es1)
CD 2
- Orchestral suite in A minor for strings, basso continuo, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:a1)
- Orchestral suite in D major for strings, basso continuo, two horns ad libitum, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:D2)
- Orchestral suite in G minor for strings, basso continuo, two oboes and bassoon colla parte (TWV 55:g1)
- Symphony in D major (Murray A 21)
- Concerto for Horn and Orchestra in D minor (Murray C 38)
- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor (Murray C 9)
- Symphony in G minor (Murray A 42)
This 18th-century opus is usually performed in a modernized version, which differs significantly from the author’s intention. With the aim to reconstruct the initial shape of this composition, the Pratum Integrum orchestra has offered its interpretation of literary and musical text of the melodrama. For the first time in 200 years, a horn orchestra participated in performing Orfeo (such orchestras were popular in Russia from mid-18th until mid-19th century, but later fell out of prominence). Among the performers are stage actors Alexey Ivashchenko and Maria Shorstova, and the Horn Orchestra of Russia from St. Petersburg.