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Somis: Violin Sonatas, Op. 1

Kreeta-Maria Kentala (violin), Lauri Pulakka (cello) & Mitzi Meyerson (harpsichord)

Somis: Violin Sonatas, Op. 1
the violinist plays cleanly with a strong sound … his ornamentation is plentiful but tasteful. The recorded balance between the instruments is good and tempos well chosen. As I said, strongly...

Somis: Violin Sonatas, Op. 1

Kreeta-Maria Kentala (violin), Lauri Pulakka (cello) & Mitzi Meyerson (harpsichord)

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Stream now Hi-RES 44.1 kHz, 24 bit
the violinist plays cleanly with a strong sound … his ornamentation is plentiful but tasteful. The recorded balance between the instruments is good and tempos well chosen. As I said, strongly...

About

Mitzi Meyerson likes to come up with surprising musical finds or rediscoveries and her latest, the Opera Prima of Giovanni Battista Somis, is as fascinating as her recordings devoted to Richard Jones and Gottlieb Muffat. Indeed, the harpsichordist chanced upon the score for this set of Baroque violin sonatas – first published in 1717 – when investigating the music of Richard Jones in the British Library, finding thereby another trove of forgotten Baroque gems. Somis worked for the Dukes of Savoy, initially in Turin, in the early 18th century, but studied with Corelli in Rome, later befriended Vivaldi, and himself taught many subsequent prominent violinists, including Jean-Marie Leclair. Known as a virtuoso on the violin himself (and he is even said to have composed 152 violin concertos!), Somis even performed at the Concert Spirituel in Paris. This, his first collection of sonatas, was dedicated to the powerful Regent of Savoy, Marie-Jeanne-Baptiste de Savoie, the mother of the future duke, Vittorio Amedeo II. The music is often very galant and perfectly combines Italian and French features. Together with violinist Kreeta-Maria Kentala and cellist Lauri Pulakka, Meyerson fully enters into the Baroque spirit of transcribing and arranging on this Glossa recording by varying these 12 three-movement sonatas with all the stylistic experience and insight that the modern-day musicians can offer.

Contents and tracklist

I. Adagio
Track length1:32
II. Allegro
Track length2:31
III. Allegro
Track length1:28
I. Adagio
Track length1:37
II. Allegro
Track length2:19
III. Allegro
Track length2:55
I. Adagio
Track length1:13
II. Allegro
Track length2:49
III. Allegro
Track length2:11
I. Adagio
Track length2:31
II. Allegro
Track length1:19
III. Presto
Track length1:16
I. Adagio
Track length2:10
II. Allegro
Track length2:12
III. Allegro
Track length2:43
I. Adagio
Track length1:47
II. Allegro
Track length2:05
III. Allegro
Track length2:32
I. Adagio
Track length1:36
II. Allegro
Track length2:05
III. Allegro
Track length2:38
I. Adagio
Track length1:29
II. Allegro
Track length2:09
III. Allegro
Track length1:50
I. Adagio
Track length1:22
II. Allegro
Track length2:23
III. Allegro
Track length1:41
I. Adagio
Track length2:15
II. Allegro
Track length2:14
III. Allegro
Track length1:33
I. Adagio
Track length2:05
II. Allegro
Track length2:23
III. Allegro
Track length2:14
I. Adagio
Track length1:06
II. Allegro
Track length2:01
III. Allegro
Track length3:09

Awards and reviews

Early Music Review August 2014

the violinist plays cleanly with a strong sound … his ornamentation is plentiful but tasteful. The recorded balance between the instruments is good and tempos well chosen. As I said, strongly recommended.

Awards Issue 2014

The performances are, in the main, impressive. The overall sound is good and Kreeta-Maria Kentala plays with lively expression, introducing imaginative decoration, especially in the adagios. And she's very well supported.

October 2014

These are marvellously gifted musicians, each performing on beautiful historical instruments. Meyerson is, as always, a brilliant and expressive harpsichordist and Pulakka gives lively and stylish support. Kentala’s violin playing is suave and nimble, with touches of sly wit and copious ornamentation … well worth hearing.

January 2015

Kentala’s interpretations of this significant but unfairly neglected repertoire are intelligent and imaginative. She is a stylish violinist…Mitzi Meyerson provides inventive harpsichord accompaniments and cellist Lauri Pulakka clearly enjoys every opportunity to participate in melodic dialogue or imitation…their creative thirst certainly brings the music to life.
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