Benda: Chamber Music and Songs, Composer Georg Benda, Artist Elena Bertuzzi soprano, Paolo Borgonovo tenor, Ulrike Slowik violin, Ensemble Arcomelo, Michele Benuzzi harpsichord & director, Format 6 CD, Many listeners will be unfamiliar with the name Georg Anton Benda, but in his day this Bohemian Kapellmeister enjoyed international fame - chiefly on account of his opera Ariadne auf Naxos, a product of the melodrama that Benda was instrumental in developing and which influenced, among others, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Benda's skill was not just limited to musical stage entertainment, however; attracting more than 2000 subscribers upon the publication of it's first part, the Sammlung vermischter ClavierstÃ¼cke fÃ¼r geÃ¼bte und geÃ¼bte Spieler quickly became a bestseller, an anthology containing keyboard music, chamber music with strings and vocal pieces. Benda belonged to a transitional period, which was full of innovations and attempts to be experimental, and the Sammlung does not full short of this mark; from the irregular, unpredictable vocal line of Jesus am Creuze's recitativo to the witty drinking song whose two-bar recitativo leads to an unexpected keyboard sonata in the same key - a suggestion for public performance? - the set abounds in surprising twists and turns, making for a delightful source of entertainment. Performing this engaging and often overlooked music is Ensemble Arcomelo, a period-instrument group whose members share a passion for research, aesthetics and Baroque rhetoric. This release marks their first recording for Brilliant Classics; founder Michele Benuzzi plays the harpsichord, deftly supporting soprano Elena Bertuzzi and tenor Paolo Borgonovo who carve up the vocal arias between them. Recorded August 2011; June, September & December 2013, Pieve di San Martino, Palazzo Pignano, Crema, Italy. Georg Jiri Antonin Benda (Bohemia, 1722-1795) was born into a musical nest: his father was composer Jan Jiri Benda and his mother came from the famous Brixi family. In 1742 Georg moved to Berlin where he worked at the court of Frederick the Great. He became a well known and internationally respected musician and composer, mainly of melodramas and operas. His "Ariadne auf Naxos" paved the way for Mozart's operas. Benda published a collection of pieces meant for domestic use, for "accomplished and less accomplished players", containing a wealth of keyboard works, chamber music and vocal works for solo voice and chamber group: delightful, fresh music, full of invention and (small) drama, marking the transition from the Baroque into the Classical Era. Excellent performances by harpsichordist Michele Benuzzi (who already received 5 star reviews for his Hassler recording for BC 94293) and his Ensemble Arcomelo, playing on original instruments.

Tracklist:

Sinfonia In F Major: I. Allegro
Sinfonia In F Major: II. Andante Mesto
Sinfonia In F Major: III. Allegro
Sonata In G Major With Accompaniment For Two Violins, Viola And Cello: I. Allegro
Sonata In G Major With Accompaniment For Two Violins, Viola And Cello: II. Andante Con Moto
Sonata In G Major With Accompaniment For Two Violins, Viola And Cello: III. Allegro Assai
Sonatina In D Major (Rondeau - Andante)
Sonatina In F Major (Andantino)
Sonatina In A Minor (Allegro)
Sonatina In C Major (Mezzo Allegro)
Sonata In C Minor: I. Allegro Moderato
Sonata In C Minor: II. Andante Sostenuto
Sonata In C Minor: III. Allegro
Sonatina In E Minor (Allegretto)
Sonatina In D Minor (Allegretto)
Sonatina In B-Flat Major (Allegro Moderato)
Sonata In G Major: I. Allegro
Sonata In G Major: II. Andante Quasi Allegretto
Sonata In G Major: III. Andantino
Sonata In A Minor: I. Allegro
Sonata In A Minor: II. Andante Con Moto - Arioso
Sonata In A Minor: III. Presto
Passionmusik, Jesus Am Creuze: No. 1, Recitativo
Passionmusik, Jesus Am Creuze: No. 2, Aria
Sonata In G Major For Violin And Obbligato Harpsichord: I. Mezzo Allegro
Sonata In G Major For Violin And Obbligato Harpsichord: II. Andantino
Sonata In G Major For Violin And Obbligato Harpsichord: III. Allegro
Arie. Stolz Auf Gott
Sonatina In D Major (Allegro Assai)
Sonatina In F Major (Andante Quasi Allegretto, Tempo Di Minuet)
Sonatina In F Major (Allegretto)
Menuet In C Major
Sonata In C Major: I. Mezzo Allegro
Sonata In C Major: II. Largo
Sonata In C Major: III. Allegro Assai
Sonatina In D Major (Andantino Quasi Allegretto)
Mit Lauretten, Seiner Freude
Sonatina In C Minor (Allegro Non Troppo)
Sonata In C Major With Accompaniment For Two Violins, Viola And Cello: I. Allegro
Sonata In C Major With Accompaniment For Two Violins, Viola And Cello: II. Andante Con Moto
Sonata In C Major With Accompaniment For Two Violins, Viola And Cello: III. Allegro
Mir Armen, Den Des Fiebers Kraft
Sonatina In A Major (Allegretto Con Spirito)
Du Fehlest Mir, Wie Einsam
Sonatina In B-Flat Major (Andante Con Moto, Quasi Un Poco Allegretto)
Von Nun An, O Liebe
Sonatina In G Minor (Allegro)
Venus, Wenn Du Willst Mich Rühren
Sonata In F Major: I. Allegro Assai Moderato
Sonata In F Major: II. Andantino Un Poco Larghetto
Sonata In F Major: III. Allegro
Hüpft, Ihr Wollenreichen Herden
Sonatina In D Major (Presto)
Ich War Bey Chloen Ganz Allein
Sonatina In E-Flat Major (Andante, Quasi Allegretto)
Ob Ich Morgen Leben Werde
Sonatina In C Major (Allegretto)
Mein Geliebter Hat Versprochen
Sonatina In G Major (Andante Con Moto)
Hier Ist Das Thal
Sonatina In F Major (Allegretto Moderato)
Belise Starb, Und Sprach Im Scheiden
Sonatina In B-Flat Major (Allegro)
Du, Kleine, Blondine
Romanze. Ein Mädchen, Das Auf Ehre Hielt
Sonata In C Minor: I. Allegro Non Troppo
Sonata In C Minor: II. Un Poco Largo
Sonata In C Minor: III. Allegro
Sonata In E-Flat Major: I. Allegro
Sonata In E-Flat Major: II. Andantino
Sonata In E-Flat Major: III. Allegro
Der Neid, O Kind
Sonatina In G Minor (Andante Un Poco Allegretto)
Ein Trunkner Dichter Leerte Sein Glaß
Lieber Amor, Leihe Mir
Menuet In G Major
Ich Liebte Nur Ismenen
Sonatina In D Major (Allegro)
Faulheit, Itzo Will Ich Dir
Sonata In F Major: I. Allegro Non Troppo
Sonata In F Major: II. Andante Con Moto
Sonata In F Major: III. Allegro
Philint Ist Still, Und Flieht Die Schönen
Sonatina In C Major (Andantino Quasi Un Poco Allegretto)
Wenn Man Mir Ein Mädchen Nennt
Sonatina In G Major (Un Poco Allegretto)
Heraklit, Gleich Stumpfen Greisen
Sonata In C Minor: I. Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
Sonata In C Minor: II. Andante
Sonata In C Minor: III. Allegro
Cantata. Cephalus Und Aurore
Sonatina In C Major (Tempo Di Minuet)
Süßes Mädchen, Holder Knabe
Sonatina In E-Flat Major (Allegretto)
Philint Stand Jüngst Vor Babets Thür
Sonatina In G Minor (Andante, Un Poco Allegretto)
Schön Ist Selinde
Sonatina In G Major (Allegretto)
Sonata In C Major: I. Allegro
Sonata In C Major: II. Andante Un Poco Vivace
Sonata In C Major: III. Allegro
Rondo In A Major (Andante Con Moto, Quasi Mezzo Allegretto)
Sonatina In F Major (Allegro)
Sonatina In D Major (Presto)
Ariette. Mein Thyrsis!

UPC: 5028421944333
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release Date: 1.28.14
Format: CD

Benda / Bertuzzi / Ensemble Arcomelo - Chamber Music & Songs (CD)