Boccherini - CC1001

BOCCHERINI
Five Sonatas for cello and continuo
played on period instruments
Sebastian Comberti cello
Elizabeth Kenny (archlute/guitar)
Ruth Alford (cello)
including recently discovered works
recorded here for the first time
Première Recording*

CC1001

Sonata in D major G.563*; Sonata in g minor; G.562*; Sonata in Eb major G.567*; Sonata in C major G.6; Sonata in G major G.5
Total playing time 65 mins

For the first release, Cello Classics has chosen to bring out something of a coup, in hitherto unplayed works by the first great composer for the cello to achieve universal recognition, Luigi Boccherini. Three of the sonatas on this disc have been obtained from manuscripts until recently in a private collection, and provide a wonderful addition to the classical cello repertoire.

Sebastian Comberti has been involved in the period instrument revival in London since the early 1980s and has made the study of late 18th Century cello repertoire something of a speciality. This recording has been made using original instruments with a continuo team unusually comprising archlute/guitar and cello, providing a rich and yet light accompaniment to these delightful works. It is bound to be of interest to lovers of the cello and scholars alike.

"Technically....outstanding. Comberti's tone is clean and even, his phrasing impeccable."
Gramophone   October 2001

"Cellist Comberti has an excellent tone, and clearly has mastered this music. Boccherini's cello sonatas deserved to be discovered by all those who enjoy post-baroque music."
MusicWeb   July 2001

"The three later sonatas on this disc are world premiere recordings and are particularly rewarding compositionally. Comberti brings great flair to these performances which sparkle with vitality, each movement being sharply characterised. The phrasing is tastefully conceived, with a pleasing elegance and grace, coupled with a vivid awareness of dynamics. In addition the recording quality is particularly clear, which suits the repertoire and makes this a thoroughly enjoyable CD."
Joanne Talbot   The Strad   August 2001