Fabio Biondi - Telemann: 12 Fantasias for Solo Violin (2016)

Alongside his success directing Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi's sixth CD for Glossa is the first to showcase his talents as a solo violinist. Telemann s 'Fantasias for Solo Violin' are reflections both of his full maturity as a composer and of being a highly proficient violinist himself The exceptionally prolific composer published sets of fantasias for solo instruments flute, viola da gamba as well as violin without basso continuo in Hamburg in the 1730s. The dozen fantasias recorded here are written for an unaccompanied instrument and manage to embrace both the long-established polyphonic German style with fugues and multi-part writing for the violin and the more modern Italian stile galante. Fabio Biondi plays a Ferdinando Gagliano violin from the 18th century, recorded in June 2015 by Fabio Framba in the Brescian Chiesa di Sant Eufemia, Corte Franca in Italy. If Telemann s violin music has been greatly overlooked on record it can have no better champion than Fabio Biondi and this Glossa CD booklet also benefits from an essay from the Director of the Bach-Archiv in Leipzig, Peter Wollny.
Review
'Fabio Biondi s colourful accounts of Telemann s cosmopolitan Fantasias demonstrate technical assurance, style awareness and well-considered use of extempore ornamentation, rubato and other expressive devices.'Robin Stowell The Strad, December 2016------------------------------------------ 'Like Bach and Vivaldi, Telemann wrote music for the Dresden virtuoso Johann Georg Pisendel, but these solo fantasias were written for amateurs extremely gifted ones, judging by the technical difficulties that Fabio Biondi relishes in his brilliant recording. Telemann may not have known the Bach works that overshadow his, and there is nothing here to compare with Bach s great D minor Chaconne, but this is attractive music, sizzlingly played by a baroque fiddler at his peak.' --Hugh Canning The Sunday Times, 2nd October 2016
'Fabio Biondi s classy playing ensures that they are attractive listening. Clear, sweet-toned and generously bowed, it does not over-complicate matters with fussy articulation or effects and keeps ornamentation mainly to a few rather ravishingly delivered decorative flourishes. Each movement has convincing atmosphere and pace, from the proud, stately bearing of the Grave of No 4 to the delicious lilt of No 9 s Siciliana to the expertly set-out Allegros of No 5. In short, there is a beguiling naturalness here that has not always been Biondi s thing, and that suits this music so well that even the whirlingly fast tempi he chooses for some movements are in no danger of jarring ... a very recommendable choice.' --Lindsay Kemp Gramophone, October 2016
Performance: ***** Recording: ***** 'Biondi coaxes some ravishingly sumptuous colours to offset the invigorating brilliance of his 1767 Gagliano the recorded sound at once supportive and graciously sympathetic. He is a man for all Telemann s seasons.'Paul Riley BBC Music Magazine, December 2016 -------------------------Fabio Biondi s first ever solo recording (the fantasias are unaccompanied) was well worth the wait, shining a welcome spotlight on both his exquisite technique, and the immense naturalness and grace of his playing. Don t expect a rich roar from his gut-strung 1766 Gagliano; this is a far more delicate and lighter-hued voice, producing a panoply of tonal colour. The result is an atmosphere of exceptional intimacy, accentuated further by the characterful acoustic of Corte Franca s Chiesa di Sant Eufemia. If you buy one album this month, make it this one. --Charlotte Gardner BON VIVANT, November 2016