Customer Reviews

Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco: Concerti - Concerto Köln

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
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This cd blew me away when I first heard it in the autumn of 1998. I had never heard of Dall'abaco, but bought it on faith, knowing that given Concerto Koln's integrity, the album would not fail to please. I have played this cd numerous times, and am always amazed that Dall'abaco is not given the recognition he deserves. He surely ranks up there with all the great baroque composers. The breadth of tonal colors is what contributes to the sheer beauty of the concerti, especially the ones in minor keys. Track 17 ( part of no. 3 in E minor, op. 5) is the one that really makes me sit up; it is incredible, especially the string "fanfare" effect. This cd really would change anyone's mind from thinking that baroque music is just predictably like the Masterpiece Theater theme. The ensemble and sound quality are superb also.

I remember as a child coming across violin music by Dall'Abaco and thinking it very dull. This recording came as a total revalation to me. I work as a professional musician and have, on the whole, not been impressed by the "authentic" movement. I have heard too much poor and unmusical playing. The Concerto Koln are a very gifted group, their playing is brilliant with a good feeling for style and this recording keeps one sitting on the edge of the chair the whole time. It shows these concerti to be exciting and well worth performing. The sound world this group create for these works is fantastic, with brilliant bowing especially in their off string playing. If you want to try out before buying I suggest track 26 - Ciaconna from the concerto number 6 in D major op.5.

What a disc! I purchased this cd through a music club on a whim, and I was quite pleasently surprised upon hearing it. I had never heard of Dall 'Abaco, and this recording demonstrates just how talented he was. The Cologne Concerto is an excellent Baroque ensemble whose interpretation of Dall 'Abaco's compositions is beautiful.

Regrettably, I'm not aware of any discs (either in- our out-of-print) featuring the work of this composer. If that's the case, then this disc is a real treasure. Unfortunately, it's also a full-priced cd, and since there's no real competition out there (even on the Naxos label), you'll have to pay full price to own it. My collection consists almost exclusively of used or bargain discs (the vast majority from major labels), so I would have a hard time paying full price for any cd (even one as good as this one). But if you don't mind spending the money, and you're interested in hearing Baroque music other than from Bach, Vivaldi, and the other better-known composers, then you should definitely check out this cd. It's pricey, but worth the investment.

Classical listeners excited about the "discovery" several years ago of Johann Heinichen's Dresden Concerti will welcome this recording of Evariso Felice Dall'Abaco's Concerti by the Concerto Koln. Born in Verona in 1675, Dell'Abaco rose to the position of Konzertmeister to the Bavarian elector Maximillian II Emanuel in Munich. Dell'Abaco achieved a "mixed" style of French and Italian baroque elements. If composers such as Corelli and Geminiani are important to your CD collection, then this new release will be an important addition. The playing by the Concerto Koln is clean and crisp. Although I found a slight hesitancy in the transition at 2:27 on track 6 this is almost not worth mentioning given the beautiful playing throughout this recording.

Dall'Abaco first came to my attention when his work made it into "now and again" rotation on local Classical radio. Though I must admit that a combination of Dall'Abaco's compositions as well as the masterful instrumental work of Concerto Koln make this music what it is, E.F.'s star has only started rising, and we will be hearing more from this guy.

Get this CD for the stirring stringwork, but learn to listen to the concerti as a unified expression of passion and pathos, the likes of which you seldom hear anymore.

If you are not familiar with Dall'Abaco, you will be blown away by this music. I first heard it played on the local classical station and then had to own it as part of my own classical collection. This is an amazing composer who's music is not well known, but should be.

Great CD! The interpretation and passion with which Concerto Koln memebers play the compositions are simply outstanding and takes you through a journey of joy. Just the playlists 24 and 26-28 alone provide an impressive and elevated lisening experience worth far more than the cost of CD. I thought Teledec simly has made an outstanding recording of this beautiful set of compositions by this little-known baroque composer. There is a great deal of depth in bass range in this recording. I have a collection of Musica Antiqua Koln's recordings including Telemann, Heinichen, Veracini, Charpentier, Bach. This CD can be placed graciously among them. Must listen CD for Baroque fans of composers along the line of Corelli, Handel, Vivaldi, Purcell etc. This CD is a great concert-hall entertainment at home on a Friday night of fine wine and cheese.