Customer Reviews

The Scotch Humour: Music of Nicola Matteis

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This is a first-rate recording of vastly entertaining music. The performances are passionate and committed, and Dorian has done its usual excellent job with the sound, liner notes, and cover art. I usually find this much solo violin hard to take, but not at the hands of Julie Andrijeski and Emily Davidson. I found myself wishing that this disc were longer than 58 minutes, which surely could have been managed in this age of the 80 minute CD. Nonetheless, if you are already a fan of Chatham Baroque or if your appetite for the music of Nicola Matteis has been whetted by the Palladian Ensemble's performances, you will want to own this disc as well.

I first heard Matteis' music in the Palladian Ensemble's wonderful "Excess of Pleasure" album. Yet the Chatham Baroque rendition of the same pieces is, to my ear, even better. The playing is just a bit livelier, the tone a bit more energetic.

I've heard this album was recorded when the group found themselves unable to record the pieces they'd originally planned. That may account for the spontaneity.

Well performed lively quality Baroque music, another illustration of how widespread Baroque composition style was through all of Europe, not just in the major cities of Germany, Italy, France, and England.