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Fanfare Magazine: 43:4 (03-04/2020) 
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Brilliant Classics
95763BR



Code-barres / Barcode : 5028421957630

With this review, I have the opportunity to continue my ongoing love affair with the music of Giovanni Benedetto Platti (1697–1763). I first had the privilege of encountering him in a previous Brilliant Classics release of oboe and cello sonatas that I reviewed (and enthusiastic-ally recommended) exactly nine years ago in 34:4. There I covered his biographical data and observed of his music that its style “is a felicitous blend of Italian and German elements, with the flowing melodic line and four-movement concerto style of the former melded with the more rigorous thematic development (including use of imitative counterpoint) and greater harmonic density of the latter.” The acquaintance was pleasurably renewed in 42:2 with a Brilliant Classics set of Platti’s complete keyboard sonatas (somewhat less imaginative but still enjoyable works), and a delightful Leaf Music CD of flute sonatas in 43:2.

Two of the cello sonatas on the first disc—Nos. 1 and 2—receive new recordings here, and Nos. 3 and 4 saw previous circulation on a 2010 Christophorus release; while it is not so stated, I believe that the remaining eight sonatas are enjoying world premiere releases here. A comparison of the two recordings of Nos. 1 and 2 proves most interesting. Both these performances and the previous ones by the Ensemble Cordia are excellent, but very different in character. Ensemble Cordia is softer-grained and more ruminative, with more mellow recorded sound; these renditions are vigorous, with the dramatic, knife-edge attacks in the fast movements accentuated by the slightly drier, more forward acoustic. What this set confirms is that Platti was not just another run-of-the-mill Baroque composer churning out reasonably well-wrought but formulaic pieces on deadlines, but a figure with a distinctive creative imagination. Why it has taken so long for these first-rate pieces to appear in the cello’s recorded repertoire is a puzzle, but cellists should waste no time in adding this to their standard repertoires—nor should lovers of Baroque music delay in adding this to their collections, especially at Brilliant’s super-budget price. The booklet provides notes by cellist Galligioni and artist bios for all the participants. Here’s a vote of thanks to Brilliant for continuing to promote Platti’s cause, with a call for more of the same; enthusiastically recommended.

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