Carlo Ambrogio Lonati (1645–1712), today a rather forgotten figure from the early Baroque period, was a renowned and multifaceted artist in his day, serving in high positions in Rome and Milan, apparently well versed in singing, acting, high-level violin playing and composing. This album contains his complete “Sinfonias” or trio sonatas, in what appears to be the first such project on record.
The Ensemble Giardino di Delizie, based in Rome, made an intense musicological research before putting this music on record, but the performance sounds completely natural, full of spontaneity and bursting energy. It’s clear the group really likes this music and not merely try and lecture it. The ensemble member play copies of original instruments and baroque bows, with the continuo, which incorporates cembalo, organ and cello is highly effective, making a nice blend of sound, full and agreeable to the ear.
Compared to other composers of the period or in proximity to it, the music can sound similar in some places to, say, Corelli (who came to prominence a bit later than Lonati) or to Biber, but mostly this music sounds truly original for its time. The character is more direct than Biber’s fantasy elements while less outwardly than in Corelli’s fast movements or in his darker introductions.
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The ensemble is fully sensitive when the music dance, as in the first Sinfonia, or to the contrapuntal elements on the Sixth (track 1 in the second CD, 3:50). When an emotional intensity is called for, they happily oblige to a moving effect, as in the Seventh Sinfonia (5:00).
An album of real discovery, then, superbly played and well recorded, in a close yet resonant sound well suited to the interpretation. It would have been preferable if the tracks were to be split for each movement of the Sinfonias, yet the booklet includes an informative article about the composer, music and performers. Recommended.
Lenati – Complete Sinfonias
The Ensemble Giardino di Delizie:
Ewa Anna Augustynowicz – baroque violin, artistic director
Katarzyna Solecka – baroque violin
Cristina Vidoni – baroque cello
Lucia Adelaide di Nicola – harpsichord/organ
Brilliant Classics, CD 95590
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