Music for 'The Cardinal King': the only

complete available recording of an

engaging chamber-collection from 18thcentury Rome, written for the head of a

renegade English Catholic family in exile.

Several previous Brilliant Classics albums

have given notice of the under-appreciated

gifts of Carlo Tessarini (1690-1766).

Collections of his violin and flute sonatas

have revealed a consistently inspired and

stylish voice, reliably well-turned melodies

and shapely instrumental parts rewarding

players and listeners alike. The same

qualities illuminate this collection of five

Allettamenti da Camera, composed in

Rome in 1740 and dedicated to His Royal

Highness Henry Duke of York. By that stage

in his career, the Rimini-born Tessarini had

worked for courts and aristocratic patrons

in Venice and Urbino. He had lately

moved south to Rome, perhaps in hope of

currying favour with the Stuarts, who had

lived in the city as celebrated exiles for

some years. Surely no dedicatee,

whatever their musical expertise, could

fail to be delighted by music of such

accomplishment and sunny elegance.

Each of the five Allettamenti is cast in a

tripartite quick-slow-quick form of sonata

movements, and they are crowned by a

virtuosic, two-part Capriccio which allots a

starring role to the solo violin in a set of

increasingly elaborate variations. All the

same, Tessarini departed for Naples

shortly after their composition, and

continued on his travels across Europe, finding

receptive audiences in France, England and the

Netherland, where he died early in 1767.

This new recording has been made by an

ensemble of Italian early-music specialists who

have gathered for the purpose under the

banner of the Cappella Musicale Enrico Stuart.

They are led by the violinist Gabriele Pro, who is

joined by Andrea Lattarulo (cello), Michele

Carreca (theorbo and guitar) and Simone El

Oufir Pierini (harpsichord). Pierini has won

glowing opinions for previous Brilliant Classics

albums dedicated to the music of Cherubini

(96246), de Montgéroult (96247) and Tinazzoli

(96865).