CD1
Gran Duo in E minor op.86
Trois Petits Duos op.92
Gran Duo in D major op.70
Trois Valzer op.32
CD2
Mélange on Rossini’s themes op.236
n.
Deux Nocturnes op.131
Duo in D major op.37
Trois Sonatines op.196b
CD3
Duo in C major op.11
Variations de Beethoven in F major op.169
Nocturne in G major op.127
Gran Duo in A major op.45
CD4
Deux Duos sur des thèmes de Rossini
op.233
Duo in D major op.134
Duo in C major op.135
Duo in C major op.130
Duo in G major op.151
CD5
Choix de douze ouvertures de Rossini
- Part One 1:
Cenerentola, ouverture
Bianca e Falliero, ouverture
L’Italiana in Algeri, ouverture
Tancredi, ouverture
Otello, ouverture
L’Inganno felice, ouverture
CD6
Choix de douze ouvertures de Rossini
- Part Two:
Il Barbiere di Siviglia, ouverture
La Gazza Ladra, ouverture
Semiramide, ouverture
Torvaldo e Dorriska, ouverture
Edoardo e Cristina, ouverture
Armida, ouverture
CD7
Duo in A major op.189 n.1
Duo in G major op.189 n.2
Duo in D major op. 189 n.3
Duo in A major op.65
Notturno in A major op.208
Rondò in D major
CD8
Gran Duo in A major op.63
Grande Marche composée sur Agthe
in C major op.161
Grande Marche de Ries in D major op.168
Fantasie composée différents
motifs de Fiorella, musique de Auber
in A major
Solo in D major op.207 n.1
Influential Neapolitan
composer and teacher Ferdinando Carulli
originally played the cello before changing
to study the guitar. In the late-eighteenth
century tutors of the newly established
six-stringed guitar were scarce so Carulli
was forced to develop his own method
for self-instruction. This course of
action lead to his writing and publishing
in Paris in 1811 the influential Méthode
complète de guitar ou lyre
which is still in use today, almost
two hundred years later.
As with many of his
virtuoso compatriots Carulli travelled
to northern Europe for employment, eventually,
in 1808, settling in Paris which at
that time was the musical capital of
the world. Carulli was a most prolific
composer, writing in the region of four
hundred works for solo guitar and also
for various other instrumental combinations,
which always included the guitar.
On this eight CD boxed
set release from Brilliant Classics
of the complete works of Carulli for
guitar and fortepiano the two soloists
have chosen to use authentic instruments,
for which the music would have been
intended. Furthermore I am thankful
to guitarist Leopoldo Saracino and pianist
Massimo Palumbo for following period
performance practice and recreating
that original Carulli sound. But be
warned, as it may take some time for
the ear to become accustomed to the
timbre of the authentic instruments.
The sound of the guitar and the fortepiano
sometimes overlapped and sounded so
similar at times that I could not easily
tell which instrument was which. To
have used a modern concert-grand piano
and a Spanish guitar, their present-day
counterparts, would have sounded so
very different.
Unlike the music of
most of his contemporaries, Carulli
composed predominantly in a concertante
model in which both instruments play
on equal terms using melodic invention
as the main direction and focus. The
works on this Brilliant Classics release,
containing around eight hours of music,
do not seem to follow any detectable
sequence. Initially I only intended
to play a random sample of works from
each disc however I was so captivated
by the music and the performances that
it was a joy to complete the set in
its entirety from start to finish.
The performances of
both Saracino and Palumbo are commendable
throughout showing consistent sensitivity
and delightfully engaging playing. On
CD 1 the Gran Duos op. 70 and
op. 86 must surely rank amongst the
most difficult and also the most appealing
of Carulli’s works and the soloists
display the requisite blend of virtuosity
and imagination. In homage to the composer,
Carulli transcribed several works from
the operas of Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868)
including the popular Mélange
on Rossini’s themes op.236 (CD 2),
the Deux Duos sur des thèmes
de Rossini op.233 (CD 4) and the
substantial Choix de douze ouvertures
de Rossini, which at around 103
minutes long in total, is divided into
two parts, completely filling both CD
5 and CD 6. Transcriptions of
large orchestral and operatic works
were extremely popular in Carulli’s
day as they allowed the public to encounter
music they wouldn’t normally be able
to hear. The three Duos of op.
189 (CD 7) were most likely composed
for the use of amateur players. These
undemanding pieces are most endearing
and are delightfully performed by our
two soloists. In these Carulli transcriptions
Saracino and Palumbo profitably play
in keeping with the spirit and letter
of Rossini’s unhurried, solemn, thoughtful
and playful tunes and melodies. I was
also impressed with the eminently persuasive
and precise playing in the noble and
significant four movement Gran Duo
op.63 (CD 8).
There is so much to
enjoy with this Brilliant Classics set.
The label continues to go from strength
to strength. The recorded sound is clear
and well balanced, the packaging is
attractive, neat and compact in carton
sleeves and the only negative factor
is occasionally poor proof-reading in
the substantial and informative booklet.
I can easily live with that. The astonishingly
mature playing of guitarist Leopoldo
Saracino and pianist Massimo Palumbo
are full of character in near faultless
performances of works that are packed
with quality and interest.
Michael Cookson
Leopoldo Saracino (guitar) 