Altre Follie, 1500-1750 / Jordi Savall

Hespèrion XXI, Jordi Savall

December 2005 BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE ***** “If an hour and a quarter of music based on 16 bars appears daunting, take courage from the immense stylistic variety over 200 years and the splendidly colourful range of instruments playing it. Altogether, the programme presents a highly imaginative overview of a single common musical design.”

April 2006 GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE “The best known pieces are the meatiest. In Corelli's violin sonata, Manfredo Kraemer is reticent, almost tentative, before working up to dazzling fireworks, abetted by the cello of Balazs Mate and the strumming of Xavier Díaz-Latorre's guitar. The trio sonata by Vivaldi, the last of his Op 1 set, makes an exhilarating conclusion, Kraemer joined by Mauro Lopes and a four-strong continuo group. The surprise is an equally fine violin sonata by Henrico Albicastro, alias Heinrich Weissenburg, with its virtuoso double-stopping and lively bass-line.”

Price: $33.98