Error processing SSI file

Luigi BOCCHERINI (1743 - 1805)
Flute Quintet Op.19 #5 in Bb, G 429 (1774) [10.07]
Flute Quintet Op.17 #6 in Eb, G 424 (1773) [7.42]
Flute Quintet Op.19 #2 in g, G 426 (1774) [12.31]
Flute Quintet Op.17 #5 in G, G 423 (1773) [8.34]
Flute Quintet Op.19 #4 in D, G 429 (1774) [8.51]
Flute Quintet Op.17 #1 in D, G 419 (1773) [10.08]
Beatrice Jaermann-Degix, flute
Quatuor Sine Nomine: Patrick Genet, François Gottraux, vv; Hans Egigi, va; Marc Jaermann, vc.
Recorded at Kirche Blumenstein, Blumenstein, Switzerland, 2 November 2002
Liner notes in English, French, and German.
CLAVES CD 50-2202 [58.24]
CD available for post-free online mail-order or you may download individual tracks. For some labels you can download the entire CD with a single click and make HUGE savings. The price you see is the price you pay! The full booklet notes are available on-line.

NOTE • Click on the button and you can buy the disc or read the booklet details • You can also access each track which you may then sample or down load. • Further Information.


 

I think the problem with Boccherini is the same as the problem with Telemann. Beethoven is occasionally great, occasionally terrible. Beethoven asks us to forgive him, and we are flattered for that, we forgive him, and we love him for it. Mozart and Schubert were unapproachable geniuses, but their need for us to love them brims over out of every phrase, and we love them. But Telemann and Boccherini (Boccherini was a greater composer than Telemann) don’t care whether we love them or not, and there is nothing to forgive. They produced music as effortlessly as the Spring produces flowers, in incredible quantities, gorgeous beyond imagining, in stupefying variety but all of the same quality. But they don’t need us to like them. The nineteenth century resented them for this, downgraded them to mere compilers of exercises, and went looking for somebody to forgive.

These works are all in two movements, generally fast and fast, but there are surprises. The flute parts are generally not elaborate, but, well, there are surprises. The performances are excellent; these musicians play beautifully together like one expects from a great string quartet. The flautist is as willing to let her tone blend symphonically with the strings as she is eager to take the spotlight when it is offered. There are some very difficult turns of phrase here and they pass effortlessly and with great musicality. And, as generally with Boccherini, the sense of having a good time is mostly evident, but, well, again, as always, there are surprises.

If Boccherini had written just one of these quintets and nothing more he would be regarded as a great composer. But he didn’t stop with one, he was in fact almost as prolific as Telemann! Boccherini was a cellist. These are flute quartets, right? The flute is supposed to get the spotlight. But listen to how the cellist keeps trying to upstage the flute; at times it’s like the scene in ‘Auntie Mame’.

My ‘employer’ has asked me to listen to this CD and pick my three favourite moments. What a joke! Between you and me I flipped a coin.

If you listen to nothing but Palestrina, Wagner, or Webern, you probably won’t like this disk. For the rest of us, do yourself a big favour.

Paul Shoemaker


 


CD Price: £ 11.49 Post-free Air Mail World-wide
- Download Price:
£ 8.09
Buy CD:
Download all tracks:




FREE SOUND SAMPLES
(minimum 30 secs)
Click on the appropriate link. On the next page click on braodband beneath the CD cover

CDTnº1 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in B flat Major, Op.19 No.5
CDTnº2 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in B flat Major, Op.19 No.5
CDTnº3 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in E flat Major, Op.17. No.6
CDTnº4 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in E flat Major, Op.17. No.6
CDTnº5 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in G Minor, Op.19 No.2
CDTnº6 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in G Minor, Op.19 No.2
CDTnº7 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in G Major, Op.17 No.5
CDTnº8 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in G Major, Op.17 No.5
CDTnº9 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in D Major, Op.19 No.4
CDTnº10 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in D Major, Op.19 No.4
CDTnº11 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in D Major, Op.17 No.1
CDTnº12 - L. BOCCHERINI
Flute Quintet in D Major, Op.17 No.1




You require QuickTime to listed to samples.

Get a free QuickTime download here



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • You can sample only 30 seconds (or 15% if that is longer) of a given track. Select from the View tracks list. Each sample will normally start from the beginning but you can drag the slider to any position before pressing play. • PLEASE NOTE: If you are behind a firewall and the sound is prematurely terminated you may need to register Ludwig as a trusted source with your firewall software. •You will need Quicktime to hear sound samples. Get a free Quicktime download here • If you cannot see the "Sample All Tracks" button you need to download Flash from here.

Return to Index

Error processing SSI file