Alessandro Rolla: Trio Concertante Op. 1 (complete) / Audio CD SET 2002 / Budapest String Trio: Ferenc Kiss violin, Sándor Papp viola, Balázs Kántor cello / Hungaroton Classic / 2CD

HCD32020-21

UPC 5991813202024

MADE IN HUNGARY

TOTAL TIME: 130:21 

!!! Condition of this CD Set USED VERY GOOD !!!

English Summary:

Alessandro Rolla (Italian pronunciation: [alesˈsandro ˈrɔlla]; 22 April 1757 – 15 September 1841) was an Italian viola and violin virtuoso, composer, conductor and teacher. His son, Antonio Rolla, was also a violin virtuoso and composer.

Alessandro Rolla (1757-1841) might best be remembered, to the extent he is remembered at all, as Paganini's friend and teacher. His career centered around Milan, where he was famous not only as a pedagogue but as a performer (on viola) and conductor. His six string trios, published around 1800, reveal a cultivated musical mind and a thorough assimilation of the classical style as practiced by Haydn. Each has three movements: a long sonata-allegro that's sometimes as long as both succeeding movements combined; an adagio or (in three works) a theme-and-variations andante; and a rondo finale featuring a very catchy principal tune. Although the first violin dominates, each player has plenty to do, and the textures are invariably contrapuntally rich and full. This isn't stereotypical low-brow "theme and accompaniment" Italian instrumental music or cheap Rococo fluff. Two of the works last around 25 minutes, demonstrating that Rolla was working on a comparatively large scale despite the small forces.

In short, these are well crafted pieces that would grace any collection that includes a healthy dose of classical-period chamber music. The Budapest String Trio performs them with a fine blend of technical polish and verve, though at times the players' concern for rhythmic clarity may lead to a tempo on the slow side (the prestissimo finale of Trio No. 3, for example). Rolla was very fond, as was Haydn, of syncopation as a device to generate tension, both in melody and accompaniment, and these players (perhaps being Hungarian helps) pay special attention to the music's ear-catching asymmetries. Hungaroton also supplies warm, well balanced sound, making this one of the more interesting and attractive chamber music releases to come along in some time. A very worthwhile release.

Tracklist:

DISC 1
Concert Trio No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 1, No. 1

1 I. Allegro assai 00:11:40
2 II. Largo ma non troppo 00:03:51
3 III. Rondo: Allegro 00:04:56

Concert Trio No. 2 in A Major, Op. 1, No. 2

4 I. Allegro brillante 00:12:35
5 II. Andante sostenuto 00:03:32
6 III. Rondo: Presto 00:05:22

Concert Trio No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 1, No. 3

7 I. Allegro 00:12:21
8 II. Andante mosso con variazioni 00:06:51
9 III. Rondo: Prestissimo 00:06:41


DISC 2
Concert Trio No. 4 in F Major, Op. 1, No. 4

1 I. Allegro 00:07:59
2 II. Thema con variazioni 00:07:00
3 III. Rondo: Allegro 00:04:51

Concert Trio No. 5 in C Major, Op. 1, No. 5

4 I. Allegro 00:08:42
5 II. Adagio ma non tanto 00:03:08
6 III. Rondo: Allegro 00:05:50

Concert Trio No. 6 in G Major, Op. 1, No. 6

7 I. Allegro vivo 00:09:07
8 II. Thema con variazioni 00:08:13
9 III. Rondo: Presto 00:07:27