Ensemble Aurora, Enrico Gatti - Corelli: The 'Assisi' Sonatas (2014)

The rich, beautiful violin tone, and unhurried yet thoughtful tempi of Enrico Gatti have been heard often in the music of Arcangelo Corelli. For Glossa he has now recorded the “Assisi” Sonatas for violin, 12 Sonate da camera à violino e violoncello solo, which it is believed that Corelli wrote prior to committing his Op 1 Trio Sonatas for publication in 1681, and quite possibly when the composer was still in Bologna.
If Corelli has passed into history as one of the most influential composers of instrumental music, as well as being a teacher of great renown, his published output was limited in size and so Gatti’s espousal (and that of Guido Olivieri’s, the booklet essay writer) of these sonatas as being by Corelli is to be welcomed. The solo sonatas recorded here – which appear in a manuscript from the Franciscan monastery in Assisi – possess characteristics of mid-17th century Bolognese sonata production as well as elements very typical of Corelli’s style, adequately sufficient for Enrico Gatti, always scrupulous in his response to such questions, to be assured of Corelli’s authorship.
Four additional sonatas from manuscript sources can be as well attributed to Corelli and are also included on this recording. Joining Gatti in his Ensemble Aurora for this recording, made last year in celebration of the 300th anniversary of Corelli’s death, are cellist Gaetano Nasillo and harpsichordist Anna Fontana.