Corelli Violin Sonatas Op.5. CD x 2. Free Postage!

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This 2004 recording was most recently included in the comprehensive box of Corellis works reissued by Brilliant Classics in 2011, when it received a warm welcome from Musicweb International as a reference set: the playing throughout is accomplished and achieved with a certain nonchalance that suggests the players are very familiar with the music.
The Op.5 Violin Sonatas press the case for Corelli as among the most underestimated composers of his era. Born a generation before Bach and Handel, he exercised a decisive influence upon their style and that of other composers such as Couperin, Vivaldi and Telemann: the style and practice of Baroque violin playing is unimaginable without the example of Corelli as a guiding spirit in terms of playing, teaching and writing music. As Geminiani (another contemporary) remarked, His merit was not depth of learning like that of Alessandro Scarlatti, nor great fancy or rich invention in melody or harmony, but a nice ear and most delicate taste which led him to select the most pleasing harmonies and melodies and to construct the parts so as to produce the most delightful effect upon the ear.
All these qualities may be appreciated in abundance in the Op.5 collection of 11 violin sonatas which concludes with perhaps the composers best-known work, his standalone set of variations upon the Spanish dance La Folia. This is worked up by Corelli from a slow and poignant sarabande into a wild and exuberant showpiece for the instrument showing the full range of any soloists capabilities. It is played here with tremendous brio by Rémy Baudet, the violinist who also leads the Orchestra of the 18th Century founded by Frans Brüggen.
Corelli has a nice ear and most delicate taste which led him to select the most pleasing harmonies and melodies and to construct the parts so as to produce the most delightful effect upon the ear, thus said Geminiani, contemporary of Arcangelo Corelli.
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) was one of the most successful Italian composers around 1700, based in the capital of Rome. A charismatic violinist and orchestral leader he created a wealth of instrumental music, played during church services and for domestic use. He was the most widely performed and highly estimated composer of his generation and his purely Italian style had a huge influence in Europe (a.o. Handel and Bach).
Corellis violin sonatas are the first works which abandon the trio sonata form and concentrate on the solo violin and the basso continuo, the birth of the violin sonata.
Played by Baroque specialist Rémy Baudet (concert master of the Orchestra of the 18th Century) on a 1690 Giovanni Grancino violin. The continuo is played by Jaap ter Linden (cello), Mike Fentross (theorbo) and Pieter-Jan Belder (harpsichord), for sure the finest Early Music champions of the Low Countries.

Track Listings
Disc: 1
1 I. Grave - Allegro
2 II. Allegro
3 III. Allegro
4 IV. Adagio
5 V. Allegro
6 I. Grave
7 II. Allegro
8 III. Vivace
9 IV. Adagio
10 V. Vivace
11 I. Adagio
12 II. Allegro
13 III. Adagio
14 IV. Allegro
15 V. Allegro
16 I. Adagio
17 II. Allegro
18 III. Vivace
19 IV. Adagio
20 V. Allegro
21 I. Adagio
22 II. Vivace
23 III. Adagio
24 IV. Vivace
25 V. Giga. Allegro
26 I. Grave
27 II. Allegro
28 III. Allegro
29 IV. Adagio
30 V. Allegro
Disc: 2
1 I. Preludio. Vivace
2 II. Corrente. Allegro
3 III. Sarabande. Largo
4 IV. Giga. Allegro
5 I. Preludio. Largo
6 II. Allemanda. Allegro
7 III. Sarabanda. Largo
8 IV. Giga. Allegro
9 I. Preludio. Largo
10 II. Giga. Allegro
11 III. Adagio
12 IV. Tempo Di Gavotte. Allegro
13 I. Preludio. Adagio
14 II. Allemanda. Allegro
15 III. Sarabanda. Largo
16 IV. Gavotta. Allegro
17 V. Giga. Allegro
18 I. Preludio. Adagio
19 II. Allegro
20 III. Adagio
21 IV. Vivace
22 V. Gavotta. Allegro
23 Violin Sonata No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 5, 'La Folia'