Boccherini Editio

Boccherini Editio

The most extensive Edition of Boccherini in the market. The average music lover knows only one piece by Boccherini: the famous Menuet. And indeed it is quintessential Boccherini: elegant, charming, sweetly melodic, warm and graceful. However there is more to this famous classical composer: his vast output of mainly chamber music shows him a genius craftsman, able to express himself in a wide range of emotions, in well balanced and perfected structures of the Classical Style. This set offers a generous collection of chamber music in diverse instrumental combinations, for guitar (the famous Fandango Quintet !), oboe, cello, pianoforte and strings. His symphonic output is present with a fine selection of symphonies and his complete cello concertos. Also included is his famous Stabat Mater for vocal soloists, choir and orchestra. Highly praised historically informed performances, by La Magnifica Comunità and others. One of the most distinguished figures of the Classical period, the Italian composer Luigi Boccherini (1743 1805) was revered by 18th-century listeners and musicians for the charm, elegance and lyrical beauty of his music. Although his legacy has been undervalued in modern times, this new 37 CD box set, the most comprehensive on the market, invites listeners to rediscover the distinctive musical voice and graceful style that won Boccherini acclaim during his own lifetime. The composer’s famed chamber works are explored in particular detail: a broad survey of the string quintets highlights the warmth and sophistication that listeners have found so appealing in Boccherini’s music, and the oboe, piano and guitar quintets (including the evocative Fandango Guitar Quintet) showcase his imaginative handling of instrumental and tonal colour. Boccherini’s prodigious talent as a cellist is apparent in the virtuosic cello sonatas and concertos, which call for an array of dazzling instrumental techniques, while the Stabat Mater is one of just a handful of vocal works that he wrote during his career. Also included are two discs of mature symphonies, less ground-breaking than those of his contemporaries Mozart and Haydn but equally compelling for their expressive melodies subtle innovations. Over these 37 discs, Boccherini’s works are given outstanding readings by specialists in 18th-century repertoire, with a number of performances on period instruments. The collection is a testament to the enduring charm of the Italian composer’s music, and listeners will cherish the opportunity to rediscover and explore it in greater depth.