Michele Mascitti (1664–1760): Sonata III Op. 1, Adagio (‘Sonate a violino solo’ Op. 1, libro primo, Amsterdam 1704)

Performance
By Performance
May 3, 2023Music
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NAPOLI ILLUSTRISSIMA – Works for violin and basso continuo by Michele Mascitti, Nicola Matteis, Gian Carlo Cailò, Alessandro Scarlatti, Giovanni Antonio Piani

Michele Mascitti (1664–1760)
Sonata III, from: Sonate a violino solo op. 1, libro primo (Amsterdam 1704) – Adagio

Eva Saladin Violin
Daniel Rosin Cello
Johannes Keller Harpsichord

Stadtcasino Basel, Switzerland

In the 17th century, Naples had no fewer than four conservatories where orphaned or poor boys were trained to be musicians. Internationally renowned personalities from Neapolitan musical life taught at these schools, including the violinists Giuseppe Antonio Avitrano, Pietro Marchitelli, and Gian Carlo Cailò. However, while violin virtuosos published sonata prints in other cultural centers in Italy, Austria, and Germany between 1670 and 1700, hardly any solo works for their instrument have come down to us from Naples, despite the outstanding players.

In this situation, a composite manuscript from the late 17th century owned by the Di Martinelli family of Genoese musicians, who had settled in Antwerp, is of great importance. The manuscript contains the only surviving sonata by Cailò as well as numerous other unique pieces, such as sonatas by the even better-known Carlo Ambrogio Lonati, who was temporarily in the service of the southern Italian metropolis.

Nicola Matteis, who settled in London around 1700 and printed his music there, also belongs to the circle of influential Neapolitan violinists.

In the present program, works by these personalities are combined with other Neapolitan compositions by Michele Mascitti, Giovanni Antonio Piani, and Alessandro Scarlatti. The experimental stylistic diversity connects the works and makes them equally attractive for the players and the audience.

The program is presented by Eva Saladin and her partners in basso continuo, Johannes Keller and Daniel Rosin. All three were trained in Basel and are now successful on international stages. We look forward to meeting both the musicians and the unknown music.

Eva Saladin / TD

Credit:

Organised by Freunde Alter Musik Basel (FAMB) – An association for Early Music in Basel, Switzerland.
https://famb.ch/

Audio and video production: Oren Kirschenbaum
https://www.orenkirschenbaum.com/

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