RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, Richard Lester - Boccherini: Cello Quintets, Vol. 1-2 (2002-2003)

Tracklist

Boccherini: Cello Quintets, Vol. 1
01. String Quintet in E Major, Op. 11/5, G. 275: I. Amoroso
02. String Quintet in E Major, Op. 11/5, G. 275: II. Allegro e con spirito
03. String Quintet in E Major, Op. 11/5, G. 275: III. Minuetto – Trio – Minuetto da capo
04. String Quintet in E Major, Op. 11/5, G. 275: IV. Rondo. Andante
05. String Quintet in F Minor, G. 348: I. Allegro moderato assai
06. String Quintet in F Minor, G. 348: II. Minuetto con moto – Trio – Minuetto da capo
07. String Quintet in F Minor, G. 348: III. Adagio cantabile
08. String Quintet in F Minor, G. 348: IV. Rondo. Allegro giusto
09. String Quintet in G Minor, G. 351: I. Moderato
10. String Quintet in G Minor, G. 351: II. Minuetto – Trio – Minuetto da capo
11. String Quintet in G Minor, G. 351: III. Larghetto amoroso
12. String Quintet in G Minor, G. 351: IV. Finale. Allegro ma non presto

Before Boccherini settled into the life of a composer he was a virtuoso cellist, and it was during his employment in the court of King Carlos III that he started writing cello quintets for himself to perform with the quartet already in residence. The combination of quintet with two cellos freed one of them from the obligation to provide the bass line, so Boccherini was able to exploit the instrument's full range and write for an ensemble of five soloists. He was able to further develop this sound when later employed by the cello-playing Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, where his quintets with two cellos were especially welcomed. And so were written a magnificent series of works combining lively, robust passages with elegant, suave melodic writing, and passionate driving rhythm with sweet seductive passages, all underpinned by rich five-part harmony.

It should be noted that track three of this disc is the 'Boccherini Minuet' in its original guise. Now in its sixteenth year, the RTE Vanbrugh Quartet is firmly established as one of Europe's most successful string quartets, and on this disc they are joined by Richard Lester, one of Britain's most outstanding cellists, co-principal cellist of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and member of The Florestan Trio.


Boccherini: Cello Quintets, Vol. 2
01. String Quintet in C Major, G. 310: I. Allegro con moto
02. String Quintet in C Major, G. 310: II. Minuetto con moto – Trio – Minuetto da capo
03. String Quintet in C Major, G. 310: III. Grave
04. String Quintet in C Major, G. 310: IV. Rondeau. Allegro con moto
05. String Quintet in C Major, G. 349: I. Andante con moto
06. String Quintet in C Major, G. 349: II. Minuetto con grazia – Trio – Minuetto da capo
07. String Quintet in C Major, G. 349: III. Allegro assai
08. String Quintet in C Major, G. 349: IV. Rondeau. Allegretto moderato
09. String Quintet in B Minor, G. 350: I. Andante affettuoso
10. String Quintet in B Minor, G. 350: II. Allegro giusto
11. String Quintet in D Major, G. 353: I. Allegro moderato
12. String Quintet in D Major, G. 353: II. Minuetto. Con un poco di moto
13. String Quintet in D Major, G. 353: III. Andante larghetto
14. String Quintet in D Major, G. 353: IV. Rondeau. Allegro

The second disc of Boccherini quintets adds to our appreciation of the diversity of inspiration that this eternally attractive and quintessentially classical composer achieved. All are within the confines of a choice of personnel that is both unexpected—the string quartet with extra cello—but also very personal, since the principal cello part was to be played by the composer himself and was designed, on some occasions, to be partnered by his royal patron, the cello-playing Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia! Well might we try to imagine the exciting impression they made when this spirited music was first heard and something of this thrill is vividly recreated by Richard Lester as extra cellist with the Vanburgh Quartet. Gramophone magazine noted a touch of the impetuous in Lester's Boccherini double cello sonata disc (CDH55219), an adjective that perfectly expresses the relish and verve there must have been at those first occasions.

Boccherini wrote over 100 such works. Their quantity has served to hide their quality and while it took relatively little time for the music of Vivaldi to be discovered afresh, the music of Boccherini is only now receiving the attention it deserves. This disc fulfills an important role in that exciting process.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac] Vol 1

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac] Vol 2