ALBINONI
Concert à cinque, opus 5
Collegium Musicum 90 Simon
Standage
Chandos Chaconne CHAN 0663
(76.18 minutes)
Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1751 was a Venetian composer of the same generation
as Vivaldi, so it is inevitable that he has been somewhat overshadowed by
his illustrious contemporary.
The disc contains a collection of twelve 'Concerti à cinque', or
'concertos in five parts'. The title refers to the organisation of the string
ensemble, from first violins through to bass, and it therefore indicates
how the music is organised. For these pieces rely on the subtle relationships
among the parts rather than on the conventional division of solo against
orchestra.
Collegium Musicum 90 was founded a decade ago by Richard Hickox, with whom
they have made many acclaimed recordings, many featuring the solo violin
playing of the leader, Simon Standage, a distinguished player who directs
these performances. He does so with great aplomb. Tempi always feel just
right, whether the music be fast or slow, and phrasing is sensitive but not
indulgent. All twelve concertos are roughly the same size, around five to
seven minutes, and their vitality rests on the conventional da camera
tension of fast movements enclosing a slow centre. In a few cases, however,
the slow movements have a quick centre themselves, making a five-part form
alternating fast and slow music.
The music and the performances are certainly compelling. What is more this
must count among the best engineered recordings that Chandos has made, with
an extraordinarily vivid directness captured in the ambient acoustic of All
Saints' Church, East Finchley, London. The musical judgements too are of
the best, with a beautifully balanced keyboard continuo and a string orchestra
of seventeen. An outstanding issue.
Terry Barfoot
