Campagnoli: 6 String Quartets

Description

String quartets came into their own in the latter half of the 18th century, and this brand new genre became an irresistible temptation to many composers, not least the young Italian Bartolomeo Campagnoli. The six quartets featured on this disc are bursting with vitality and innovation, as Campagnolis penchant for playful melodic lines (especially in the first violin) comes thrillingly to the fore. The composers roots in northern Italy, particularly in Padua and Florence, were carried with him as he travelled around northern Europe, settling at various points in Stockholm, Dresden and Hanover. This led to Campagnolis own assertion that he combined German learnedness with Italian soul, a truly pleasurable mixture perfectly suited to the string quartet genre. Ensemble Symposium are experts in Campagnolis repertoire, with founder Simone Laghi currently preparing a critical edition of the composers six string quartets for publication in the USA. The groups masterful and compelling performance is a testament to their extensive historical studies, as they strive to create a strong link between research and active interpretation, with striking results. Other information Recorded in 2014. Contains artist biography.