Valerio Losito - Viola d'amore solo (2012)

Tracklist

01. Ave Maris Stella
02. Suite in D Minor: I. Aria
03. Suite in D Minor: II. Courante
04. Suite in D Minor: III. Gigue
05. Suite in D Minor: IV. Sarabande
06. Scordatura in G Major
07. Scordatura (Ciacona)
08. Capriccio and Minuet in A Major: I. Capriccio
09. Capriccio and Minuet in A Major: II. Minuetto
10. Partita in D Major: I. Aria
11. Partita in D Major: II. Gigue
12. Partita in D Major: III. Menuet
13. Partita in D Major: IV. Gavotte
14. Partita in D Major: V. Rigaudon
15. Partita in D Major: VI. Menuet I & II
16. Scordatura in A Major
17. Nitida stella
18. Partita in F Major: I. Gavotte
19. Partita in F Major: II. Gigue
20. Partita in F Major: III. Bourrée
21. Partita in F Major: IV. Air
22. Partita in F Major: V. Courante
23. Partita in F Major: VI. Sarabande
24. Partita in F Major: VII. Menuet I & II
25. Gaita de folle
26. Partita in A Major: I. Introduction
27. Partita in A Major: II. Allemande
28. Partita in A Major: III. Courante
29. Partita in A Major: VI. Sarabande
30. Partita in A Major: Menuet
31. Partita in A Major: VI. Gigue
32. Partita in A Major: VII. Aria
33. Partita in A Major: VIII. Gavotte
34. Partita in A Major: IX. Bourrée
35. Partita in A Major: X. Rondeau
36. Partita in A Major: XI. Menuet
37. Scordatura in E Minor



Famed for its distinctive sound, the viola d’amore – literally meaning ‘viola of love’ – is one of the more unusual members of the string family, an instrument that appeared towards the end of the 17th century and which owes its silvery, angelic tones to the symbiotic vibrations between its two sets of strings, one gut- and one wire-based.

This release celebrates the d’amore’s versatility of sound by bringing together some of its finest Baroque repertoire. Beginning with the Ave Maris Stella, an ancient hymn dedicated to the Mother of God, the compilation takes the listener on an absorbing journey that combines the famous with the not so widely known; from Petzold’s illustrious two partitas – which are considered to be on the same level of importance for the d’amore as Bach’s partitas and sonatas are for the violin – to Morigi’s Capriccio and Menuetto, the compilation also touches on various anonymous works, including the delightful Partita in D. Dance movements abound, reflecting the Baroque period’s predilection for all things French.

Performing these works is the acclaimed young talent Valerio Losito, who uses a 1775 Gagliano on kind loan from the Fondazione Elsa Peretti. Losito is one of today’s most accomplished d’amore players, and it’s easy to hear why; combining a flawless technique with vivid imaginative detail, this release marks his second recording for Brilliant Classics (the first of which, dedicated to Domenico Scarlatti’s ‘melobass’ sonatas, received rapturous reviews) and strengthens the argument as to why this instrument deserves to be better known.

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