Giovanni PAISIELLO (1740-1816)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major (1780-83) [23:58]
Piano Concerto No. 3 in A major (c. 1783-1788) [12:44]
Piano Concerto No. 5 in D major (c.1783-1788) [12:55]
Francesco Nicolosi (piano)
Compania Chamber Orchestra/Luigi Piovano
rec. Il Palazzo reale di Caserta e Borboni di Napoli, Caserta, Italy, 12-14
May 2007
NAXOS 8.572065 [49:51]
What a find this is: keyboard concertos to rival those of Mozart in delight
and charm.
Giovanni Paisiello was a prolific composer of operas - over eighty of them
- and his work rivalled that of Mozart. Born in Taranto, Paisiello studied
with Jesuits before moving to Naples for advanced studies. He composed operas
for venues all over Italy including Parma, Modena, Bologna, Venice, Rome and
Naples. He was recommended to the Russian court at St Petersburg in the days
of Catherine II. In addition to his operatic works, he wrote music in other
genres including orchestral works. There are eight keyboard concertos.
Paisiello’s First Piano Concerto, the most substantial of the three recorded
here, was written for harpsichord between 1780 and 1783 during the composer’s
years in St Petersburg. It is dedicated to Her Excellency, Signora de Sinnavine,
a Lady-in-Waiting to the Russian Empress. This dainty, feminine, concerto has
great charm. A light-fingered Nicolosi deftly realizes its gentle playfulness,
poignancy and delicacy especially in the delightful, lyrical Larghetto. The
piano part is deftly balanced and sensitively supported by Piovano’s
ensemble, the strings mildly yearning, and woodwinds singing plaintively.
The Piano Concerto No. 3’s opening Allegro is animated, sunny
and good humoured. It is, at times, a little reminiscent of the cries of farmyard
birds - pre-echoing Respighi’s The Birds. The pace slows for the
central Largo which persists in A major thus minimising melancholy.
There is a graciously, demure melodic cadenza that is echoed in stately fashion
by the strings. The Minuetto closes this little concerto with wit and charm.
Equally brief and no less appealing is the Fifth Piano Concerto. This is scored
for keyboard, two horns and strings. The first movement’s piano part
sparkles; it’s decorations exquisite and its runs and arpeggios sunny.
Another poignant Largo forms the tiny central movement. Nicolosi endows the
whole with beguiling grace and refinement.
Paisiello’s Second and Fourth Concertos have been recorded on Naxos 8.557031.
This CD may be short measure in its 50 minutes running time, but it is utterly
charming.
Ian Lace