Ensemble Opera Qvinta

Antonio Veracini: Sonate Da Camera Op. 2 Ensemble Opera Qvinta

Antonio Veracini (1659-1733) was born in Florence during the Renaissance and developed a career as a composer under the Medici patronage. He worked in close contact with the most eminent figures of the court and managed the best music school in the city. This release features the Ten Violin Sonatas Op. 2 composed in

1694, which were officially conceived "to provide practice works for beginners" but actually require excellent technical skills of performers, and are equally noteworthy for their wealth of inspiration.

As often occurred at that time, the sonatas are dedicated to members of the Tuscan élite of the day, which makes them even more evocative. The collection is not only varied in content but also highly structured. The sonatas, ranging from 3 to 5 contrasting movements, anticipate Corelli's successful Op. 5 sonatas (1700) in their treatment of the musical material. The edition of Antonio Veracini's sonatas consists of two scores, one for the violin and one for the

"harpsichord or the violone".

Violinist Fabrizio Longo leads the Ensemble Opera Qvinta, of which the other members are Domenico Cerasani (theorbo / Spanish guitar), Marc Vanscheeuwijck (violone) and Anna Clemente (harpsichord).