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Label Challenge Classics |
UPC 0608917297928 |
Catalogue number CC 72979 |
Release date 03 May 2024 |
"The violins are exact mirrors of each other, which makes for a nice kaleidoscope of sound, while the basso underpins everything with a solid foundation. The use of complex counterpoint, of knowing when to use parallel passages for the violins, and the nice sense of tempo makes this an excellent disc. If you want some early Baroque sonatas that go beyond the usual Corelli, Scarlatti, or Vivaldi, this disc is an excellent one to show why the Italian style of instrumental music was so well regarded in its time. Highly recommended."
Fanfare Magazine, 01-11-2024This new recording by Matteo Cicchitti and his ensemble Musica Elegentia is devoted to Michele Mascitti, a Baroque composer who, already in his time, was particularly esteemed and rightly considered a major testimonial of Italian instrumental music in France in the 18th century. In particular, this world premiere recording of his Triosonatas op. 1, published in Paris in 1704, spotlights the composer's attempt to recall the tradition of the Corellian sonata, while complying with the French 'gout' of the dedicatee, the Duke d'Orléans.
The violins are exact mirrors of each other, which makes for a nice kaleidoscope of sound, while the basso underpins everything with a solid foundation. The use of complex counterpoint, of knowing when to use parallel passages for the violins, and the nice sense of tempo makes this an excellent disc. If you want some early Baroque sonatas that go beyond the usual Corelli, Scarlatti, or Vivaldi, this disc is an excellent one to show why the Italian style of instrumental music was so well regarded in its time. Highly recommended.
Fanfare Magazine, 01-11-2024
The performances are spirited and full of character, and the engineering places a wonderful bloom around the instruments.
Fanfare Magazine, 01-11-2024
Cicchiitti, it was said, follows the path of brightness but also of introspection, giving life and vigor back to compositions that without exaggeration they can be defined as paradigmatic for the evolution of the sonata.
The recording benefits from nice depth and is spatially well defined.
Le Salon Musical, 07-9-2024
The performances by Musica Elegentia are effective...
American Record Guide, 01-9-2024
The freshness and liveliness of this recording, together with the harmonic tension that does not fail for the complete ensemble of the sonatas, is extremely enjoyable, and involves in an expressive unicum that enriches the mind and spirit, particularly in the dances and sarabands, wittily evoked in the timbre of the group made up of Paola Nervi and Marco Pesce on violins, Antonio Coloccia on cello and Luca Pollastri on organ and harpsichord. A nomen omen in a state of grace for the Ensemble Musica Elegentia, and the Maestro on violone and direction Matteo Cicchitti.
Gothic Network, 08-8-2024
...first of all the choice of tempos, always measured and never excessive, in great respect even of the most elaborate writings, such as the Allemanda of the XII Sonata and even more so the spiritoso of the XI, therefore for the general broad but composed sound, which makes different characteristics are recognizable and which make these fifty minutes of music a shining example for rethinking (or retracing) the stages of historically informing performances.
Archi Magazine, 01-7-2024
These sonatas are done full justice by the ensemble Musica Elegentia. Due to their use of a cello and a violone, I sometimes found the bass a bit too heavy. However, the basso continuo players make sure that the rhythmic pulse comes off very well. I have nothing but praise for the excellent playing of the two violinists, Paola Nervi and Marco Pesce. They deliver colourful and dynamically differentiated performances.
This disc is a welcome contribution to the discography of a composer who rightly enjoys quite some attention these days. Let’s hope for more Mascitti in the years to come.
Music Web International, 12-6-2024
Matteo Cicchitti offers one of the best versions of this cycle that can be recommended for any Italian Baroque lover.
Sonograma, 29-5-2024
The Sonate a tre by Michele Maschitti - Disc CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72979: Michele Mascitti / SONATE A TRE, OP. 1 / Musica Elegentia, dir. Matteo Cicchitti
Rai Radio 3, 09-5-2024
The proposal signed by Musica Elegentia and its leader Matteo Cicchitti stands out for its interpretative wisdom and high quality of recording and certainly constitutes a reference album and a fixed point in the valorization of Mascitti's music and an example of research methodology in times in which the the past seems to be worth less than the present.
RSI, 29-4-2024
Once again, the result is exquisitely crafted, thanks to a dynamic that is an example of cleanliness and naturalness, without lacking energy and speed.
Music Voice, 15-4-2024