Kreeta-Maria Kentala, Lauri Pulakka & Mitzi Meyerson - Francœur: 10 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1 (2018)

For her ninth recording project on Glossa, the Berlin-based American harpsichordist Mitzi Meyerson is joined by her Finnish colleagues Kreeta-Maria Kentala (violin) and Lauri Pulakka (cello). With this same setup – which they are keen to call the “Jones Band” – they have previously unearthed works for the label by Richard Jones and Giovanni Battista Somis.

The new recording is centred on François Francœur, a celebrated member of the Vingt-quatre Violons du Roi and of Le Concert Spirituel in France, and co- director, later in his career, with François Rebel, of the Paris Opéra. The ten violin sonatas on the present double album represent the complete Premier Livre de sonates à violon seul et basse continue, published in Paris in 1720. The writing brings together the elegance of the French style and the energy of the Italian in a perfect blend of both aesthetics, with Francœur presenting his own unique voice in this collection in an effective manner. The music is tuneful and fresh, refined and robust, complete with tender melodies, wild dances, pastorales, and movements of unabashed virtuosity.

Kreeta Maria Kentala, violin
Lauri Pulakka, cello
Mitzi Meyerson, harpsichord