Italian Classical Consort, Luigi Magistrelli - Gaetano & Giuseppe Donizetti: Chamber Music with Clarinet (2025)

Tracklist

01. The Battle for Military Music: I. Allegretto-Allegretto-Allegro-Allegro-Andante Maestoso-Allegretto-Allegro Finale
02. Laudamus Te
03. De Torrente Duet
04. Qui Tollis
05. Variations from Elisir D'amore
06. Concerto on Anna Bolena Theme Deh Non Voler Costringere from Act I
07. Sonata for 2 Clarinets: I. Allegro Moderato
08. Sonata for 2 Clarinets: II. Adagio
09. Sonata for 2 Clarinets: III. Rondo Allegretto
10. Studio No. 1 for Solo Clarinet
11. Studio No. 2 (Bass Clarinet)
12. Paolina E Severo Cavatina from Poliuto
13. Aria from Bellissario
15. Larghetto
16. Sextet from Lucia Di Lammermoor
17. Sonata (Andante-Allegro)

Gaetano Donizetti was one of the most distinguished Italian composers of the first half of the 19th century. At that time, opera was the preeminent musical genre in Italy, and many top composers based their careers on it. Unlike his contemporary Italian opera composers, though, Gaetano Donizetti also devoted his art to chamber music, producing a good number of excellent works. Between 1814 and 1821, he wrote a number of interesting compositions that included both obligato clarinet or two clarinets in C, as well as demanding parts for basset horn. The voices of soprano and tenor are involved, even in a duet (Aria De Torrente). This album is indebted to Nico Bertelli for his research and publications concerning classical and early romantic arias with clarinet, and to Italian researcher Adriano Amore.

Giuseppe Donizetti (a.k.a. Donizetti Pasha) was Gaetano Donizetti’s older brother. He was a talented child and received lessons from Simon Mayr, the same teacher as his brother. In 1825, he became music master of an Austrian regiment stationed in Italy. In 1831, the Turkish sultan asked him to form the military band of his empire along the Central European lines. He managed to win great esteem and favour from the sultan, transferring the musical style of Italian music to the shores of the Bosporus with great success. He died in Constantinople on 12 February 1856. Giuseppe Donizetti wrote a large amount of music for military bands in many different combinations, but only a few of those works reached his homeland. There are also some vocal works and shorter piano pieces, published in Milan and Florence.

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