Federico Guglielmo, Andrea Coen - Veracini: Dissertazioni sopra l'Opera Quinta del Corelli (2005)

Despite his rather extensive output (especially in the realm of violin sonatas), composer Francesco Maria Veracini is likely unknown to most. His life history and personal writing read something like that of a modern-day groupie. Veracini was enamored with the works of Corelli and held the composer's works up with the highest possible esteem. It does not come as a surprise, then, that one of his most significant works would be based entirely on the works of Corelli. The Dissertazioni sopra l'Opera Quinta del Corelli is an entire set of expansions and elaborations of Corelli's Op. 5. The resulting six "dissertiations" make up a set of pieces clearly of Corelli yet substantially different at the same time. Performing these curiosities is Baroque violinist Frederico Guglielmo and harpsichordist Andrea Coen. In general, Guglielmo's playing is solid but at times startlingly inconsistent. Long, sustained double-stops are often out of tune without any attempt to correct the error. Tone is equally inconsistent, with individual notes sometimes sticking out of the line without vibrato or color; chords are often crunched. As a result, from a purely aesthetic perspective, this album is only marginally enjoyable. Academically, however, violinists and music history buffs will take great pleasure in comparing these works to Corelli's originals. Listeners should also note that the track listing is incorrect.