Anner Bijlsma & Boccherini Quartet - The Boccherini Quartet with Anner Bijlsma (1993)

Luigi Boccherini was an incredibly prolific composer. Sadly, during his lifetime and even in the modern day, his music was consigned to obscurity owing to the popularity his contemporaries Mozart and Haydn. It is fortunate that his compositions are experiencing somewhat of a rebirth and new appreciation. Heard here are four of his more popular chamber works, representing only a small fraction of his overall output. Perhaps the most well known are the two quintets (scored for two violins, viola, and two cellos). Himself a cellist, Boccherini wrote extensively for the instrument and the two-cello quintet was by far his favorite chamber ensemble. The virtuoso part in the C minor trio, also heard here, further underscores his affinity for writing for his own instrument.

The Boccherini Quartet, joined by famed Baroque cellist Anner Bijlsma for the two-cello quintets, does an admirable job of accentuating the most pleasing facets of Boccherini's compositional style. Their playing is quite energetic and well balanced regardless if the configuration is quintet, quartet, or trio. Both the graceful compositions themselves and the thoughtful performances make it clear why Channel Classics chose this album for re-release as one of its best recordings. -- Mike D. Brownell