Complete String Sinfonias (CD)

Theatrical chamber music might appear to be a contradiction in terms, but the unlikely idea is fulfilled by these sparkling, highly wrought trio sonatas. For despite their title, that is what they are: most composers of the 18th century may have used the sonata designation for this form, but Alessandro Stradella employed at least several of these works as preludes or overtures to his dramatic and sacred works such as the oratorio Susanna (already recorded on Brilliant Classics, BC94345). Stradella's music, which is at last receiving something of the interest it deserves, contains passages of pure genius even in the relatively small but excellent instrumental repertoire. The sinfonia in F major numbered sixth here is a case in point, opening with a furiously agitated allegro and following with a striking union of lamenting slow and energetic quick sections. A contemplative slow movement then precedes a substantial, Handelian fugue: it is as if Stradella were working through a range of generic archetypes available to him, within the course of one 10-minute sonata. The A minor Sinfonia is rather more unified, no less witty than the F major work and again containing a thoroughly worked fugue, but now cappedwith a finale full of surprising dissonance. The sinfonias have been recorded here by an Italian early-music ensemble led from the keyboard by Francesco Cera, whose expertise in the field of composers in this era is attested to by a wide-ranging discography on Brilliant Classics which includes albums of music by d'Anglebert (BC94793), Trabaci (BC94897), Scarlatti (BC94488) and J.S. Bach (BC94639). Of his Orgelbüchlein recording, MusicWeb International commented that 'Francesco Cera plays with that innate rhythm that establishes that irresistible, compelling pulse in Bach... I wouldn't just want to have one recording of these works ... but if I had to reduce to one, it would be Cera.' The same site noted of 'Scarlatti and Neapolitan Song' that it is 'a most