Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): Sinfonia in A major / Sinfonia in D minor

Sinfonia in A major (a piu strumenti obbligati)
00:00 Allegro spiritoso
07:14 Minuetto: Allegro
11:32 Andante
19:10 Finale: Allegro ma non presto

Sinfonia in D minor (a piu istrumenti)
22:33 Allegro moderato
31:08 Minuetto: Con moto
35:16 Andante amoroso
38:53 Finale: Allegro vivo ma non presto

Orchestra dell'Angelicum di Milano - Bruno Martinotti, conductor

The face, framed in a powdered wig, of Lucca-born Luigi Boccherini, has always been identified (and considering human nature, probably always will be) with the celebrated Minuet from the Quintet Op. 13 No. 5. This famous piece, a clear testimony of an epoch and a style, eclipsed all of Boccherini’s other works, perhaps with the exception of his B flat Major Concerto for cello and orchestra, although the latter is by no means a masterwork.

But Boccherini’s neglect as a symphonic composer is absolutely unwarranted. Probably the disappearance from the musical scene of the Italian composer is partly due to the attention denied him and devoted to composers such as Haydn and Mozart, who in a certain sense were his contemporaries. Little by little, diligently composed a body of works in step with his times, always conscious of the latest developments in music.

But while Haydn and Mozart climbed to ever more unreachable heights with his great inspirational gifts and tragic sense, Boccherini remained attached to his old habits and routines.

A court musician, probably hostile to the “modernity” of his day, Boccherini, at the turn of the 19th Century was unable to fit into the right musical category or classification. In 1802 [1805], he died, in extreme poverty, in Spain.

A famous cellist, Boccherini had built up a solid reputation during a series of European tours, which revealed his characteristic sensitivity and virtuosity. Exiled, as were so many Italians of that time (but how can we understand 18th Century exile from an inexistent country, made up of a mosaic pattern of States?), he took up residence at the courts of Spain and Prussia. He performed and composed, as was the custom of the time: reportedly he composed over 100 quartets and an equal number or more of quintets, 20 or so symphonies and an innumerable amount of chamber music. If catalogued, his music would easily number over 500 works. Nonetheless, only a few years ago, at the beginning of our contemporary age, Boccherini was practically unknown.

Some musicologists have nicknamed him “Mrs. Haydn.” Even though it’s true the Boccherini style was related to that of the Viennese School, this nickname is unfair since the spirit of his style was completely different, and extremely personal. Certainly the Italian never reached the degree of power in Haydn’s music, but the delicacy of sound, the erudition and care for detail, the clean, precise elaboration of the melodic pattern and the richness of harmonies are all qualities worthy of our attention and lavishly evident in Boccherini’s works.

This recording includes two symphonies, revised by Riccardo Allorto: the one in A Major and the one in D Minor.

The structure of both symphonies follows the law of contrasts. The tempi alternate and naturally, the musical protagonist of the 18th Century is not missing: the minuet. One can hear a common denominator in both symphonies: the concise elegance and tidy concentration of ideas. The first one, in A Major, is clearer and cleaner, while the one in D Minor is more stringent and sentimental.

As for the works of pre-Romantic composers, we are aware of the difficulty in finding the dividing line between serious, meaningful compositions and skillfully composed yet only occasionally compelling works. In Boccherini’s case, a musician yet to be discovered and catalogued, we find a great craftsman united almost always with a conscious artist. In the elegant clarity of the allegro movements, the tortuous beauty of the minuets and the easy smoothness of the andante movements, these two symphonies are perhaps the most valid demonstration we could give in our above-stated support of Boccherini.

Mario Pasi

Musical Heritage Society (MHS 1740)

Arte: La feria de Madrid en la plaza de la Cebada (1770-1780), por Manuel de la Cruz y Cano (1737-1793)

Видео Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): Sinfonia in A major / Sinfonia in D minor канала calefonxcalectric