Giovanni Benedetto Platti (c. 1697-1763) was an Italian composer and virtuoso instrumentalist whose career unfolded largely at the court of Wurzburg. Born in or near Padua, he moved to Germany in 1722 to enter the service of Prince-Bishop Johann Philipp Franz von Schonborn. At the Wurzburg court, he worked as an oboist, singer, teacher and instrumentalist, performing on several instruments, including the cello and keyboard.

Platti left 28 concertos featuring obbligato cello, a remarkable contribution to the eighteenth-century cello repertoire. His concertos combine the brilliance and rhythmic vitality of the Italian Baroque tradition with an intimate and expressive approach to the solo instrument. The fast movements feature agile passagework and lively thematic invention, while the slow movements reveal rich harmonies, expressive melodies and a distinctly vocal lyricism.

Equally important are Platti's 12 sonatas for cello and basso continuo, arranged in two groups of six and dated 1725. These works explore a wide range of technical and expressive possibilities, combining Italianate melodic writing with contrapuntal detail and energetic rhythmic figures. Their lyrical character and virtuosic demands demonstrate Platti's particular sensitivity to the expressive potential of the cello.

Platti's cello music occupies an intriguing position between the late Baroque and the emerging galant style. While his concertos retain the virtuosity and formal principles of the Italian concerto tradition associated with composers such as Vivaldi, his melodic imagination and elegant phrasing point towards the changing musical language of the eighteenth century. His works offer a fascinating insight into the growing prominence of the cello as a solo instrument.

Played by two of the foremost cellists of Italy: Stefano Veggetti (concertos) and his Ensemble Cordia, and Francesco Galligioni (sonatas) with his keyboard partner Roberto Loreggian.

This 3-CD set is a compilation of previously issued recordings on Brilliant Classics.