Raffaele La Ragione - Mandolin On Stage - Import CD

Credits:

Raffaele La Ragione

Description:

A brilliant achievement by a prodigious talent who, together with an up-and-coming ensemble, delves into the true nature of the mandolin, a key instrument of the 18th century The mandolin is an instrument that, despite being incorporated into works by great composers such as Vivaldi’s concertos, Mozart’s *Don Giovanni*, and pieces by Beethoven and Hummel, has surprisingly not been the subject of deep exploration regarding its “original sound.” Like the guitar and the harp, the mandolin has enjoyed several golden ages throughout history. In particular, prior to the French Revolution, it enjoyed widespread popularity across Europe—including major cities such as Paris and London—and, aided by the activities of renowned virtuosos, it appears to have had a large number of amateur players. This is confirmed by the fact that a considerable number of period instruments and works from that era still survive today. Seeking to address this situation from both the perspectives of performance practice and research, Raffaele La Rione—who has continued his work to uncover the mandolin’s true historical character, which had become obscured since the late 19th century due to an overemphasis on its role as a Southern European folk instrument—presents this groundbreaking collection of 18th-century works, recorded with Il Pomodoro d’Oro, an ensemble of leading early music specialists. Using three different types of period instruments (one of which is an original from the era), this album centers on four important concertos—ranging from Vivaldi in the late Baroque period to Hummel on the eve of the Romantic era—to reveal the true nature of the mandolin, which, in the 18th century, took center stage alongside the leading opera singers. The program is exquisitely structured to highlight how the mandolin interacted with other instruments and the orchestra throughout the Classical period, featuring overtures by contemporaries such as Haydn and Garuppi. In addition to La Ragione, who also wrote the program notes, the ensemble features soloists such as Zefira Valova (violin), Marcello Gatti (traverso), and Francesco Corti (harpsichord), who also serves as conductor. The ensemble presents interpretations that fluidly shift in tempo and intensity, featuring a chamber music lineup for works from the first half of the century and an expanded ensemble—including wind instruments—for those from the second half. This is an excellent release that allows listeners to experience the mandolin from multiple perspectives through confident performances, presenting it not as a novelty instrument but as an integral part of the early music tradition. Japanese translation of the liner notes for the domestic edition… Tatsuo Shirasawa Naxos Japan