Description

Giovanni Bottesini: Music for Double Bass and Piano Vol. 1 (Naxos) CD

Brand new! Factory packaged! As pictured! Buy with confidence!

UPC: 636943400227
Product Type: Music CD
Brand Name: Naxos
MPN: 8.554002
Genre: Classical
Style: Romantic / Virtuoso
Composer: Giovanni Bottesini
Performers: Joel Quarrington (Double Bass), Andrew Burashko (Piano)
Release Year: 1997

Product Features

Format: Audio CD (DDD)
Length: 65:36
Dimensions: Standard Jewel Case
Label: Naxos
Recording Venue: Glenn Gould Studio, CBC, Toronto, Canada (1996)

Overview

Prepare to be amazed by the hidden lyrical potential of the "elephant" of the orchestra. This Naxos recording, the first volume in a celebrated series, showcases the works of Giovanni Bottesini, the 19th-century virtuoso who single-handedly transformed the double bass into a soaring, melodic solo instrument.

Performed by the world-class Canadian bassist Joel Quarrington and pianist Andrew Burashko, this disc features a collection of elegies, bravura capriccios, and operatic-style melodies. From the soulful Elegy in D to the technical fireworks of the Capriccio di Bravura, these recordings prove that the double bass is capable of as much beauty and agility as a violin or cello. It is an essential recording for classical music lovers, double bass enthusiasts, and anyone looking to discover the "Paganini of the Double Bass."

Interesting Facts

A Fate-Driven Choice: Giovanni Bottesini (1821–1889) only began playing the double bass because it was one of only two scholarships available at the Milan Conservatory (the other was for bassoon). He learned the instrument in just weeks to win the audition!
The "Paganini of the Double Bass": Bottesini was world-famous in his time, astounding audiences with his ability to play high harmonics and rapid passages previously thought impossible for such a large instrument.
A Master Conductor: Beyond the bass, Bottesini was a respected conductor chosen by Giuseppe Verdi to lead the world premiere of his opera Aida in Cairo in 1871.
Unique Tuning: Joel Quarrington is famous for tuning his double bass in fifths (like a cello, but an octave lower), rather than the traditional fourths. This allows the instrument to ring with greater resonance and clarity, which is evident throughout this recording.
The Artists: Joel Quarrington has served as Principal Bass for the London Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony. Andrew Burashko is the founder and Artistic Director of the renowned Art of Time Ensemble.