The London Festival Orchestra, Ross Pople - Boccherini: 4 Symphonies, G. 515, 517, 518, 520 (1996)

Tracklist

01. Symphony No. 21 in C Major, G. 515: I. Allegro con moto
02. Symphony No. 21 in C Major, G. 515: II. Menuetto
03. Symphony No. 21 in C Major, G. 515: III. Lento
04. Symphony No. 21 in C Major, G. 515: IV. Allegro vivo assai
05. Symphony No. 23 in D Minor, G. 517: I. Allegro moderato
06. Symphony No. 23 in D Minor, G. 517: II. Minuetto con moto
07. Symphony No. 23 in D Minor, G. 517: III. Andante amoroso
08. Symphony No. 23 in D Minor, G. 517: IV. Allegro vivo ma non presto
09. Symphony No. 24 in A Major, G. 518: I. Allegro spiritoso
10. Symphony No. 24 in A Major, G. 518: II. Minuetto
11. Symphony No. 24 in A Major, G. 518: III. Andante
12. Symphony No. 24 in A Major, G. 518: IV. Allegro ma non presto
13. Symphony No. 26 in D Major, G. 520: I. Allegro
14. Symphony No. 26 in D Major, G. 520: II. Andante
15. Symphony No. 26 in D Major, G. 520: III. Minuetto
16. Symphony No. 26 in D Major, G. 520: IV. Presto

The symphonies of Boccherini are at once original, unfailingly melodic, sophisticated and intriguingly exotic, a legacy owed in part to his living the second half of his life in Spain, removed from the more obvious eighteenth-century centres of musical development.

This recording is of the three surviving Op 37 symphonies and the single symphony from the Op 42 set (which, bizarrely, includes string quartets, quintets and an octet). This latter symphony is believed to be here receiving its first recording. All four works fundamentally follow the standard European symphonic practice of the time, yet there is often an unusual richness to Boccherini's string writing and, for the listener, delights are guaranteed at every turn.

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