Geminiani: Concerti Grossi (After Corelli, Op. 5)

Andrew Manze is not only a superb violinist -- check out his Biber sonatas -- but also a superb music director. Since taking over the calcified old Academy of Ancient Music and bringing the group with him to Harmonia Mundi, he has produced a stunning series of recordings: a couple of Vivaldi discs, a wonderful set of Handel's Opus 6 concertos, a sublime disc of the Bach concertos. Now they have released Geminiani's Concerto Grossi after Corelli's Op. 5, and it is their best yet.Geminiani did not simply transcribe Corelli's ... Read More

Andrew Manze is not only a superb violinist -- check out his Biber sonatas -- but also a superb music director. Since taking over the calcified old Academy of Ancient Music and bringing the group with him to Harmonia Mundi, he has produced a stunning series of recordings: a couple of Vivaldi discs, a wonderful set of Handel's Opus 6 concertos, a sublime disc of the Bach concertos. Now they have released Geminiani's Concerto Grossi after Corelli's Op. 5, and it is their best yet.Geminiani did not simply transcribe Corelli's trio sonatas, he expanded them into works of his own. In effect the works become cheerful Geminiani instead of dour Corelli. The Academy plays brilliantly and, more important, with guts. Gone is the mincing and crimping of the Hogwood years; this year's model digs deep into catgut strings that produce rich and varied sonorities. One feels that the results must be due to Manze's directorial influence, because the Academy never sounded like this before him. Furthermore, Manze... Read Less