Rossini & Hoffmeister: Quartets with Double Bass, Vol. 2

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In later life Rossini dismissed the quartets as ‘terrible’, but the truth – as made plain by the excellent performances on this recording – is that this music is much more than a mere prentice... — BBC Music Magazine, April 2019 More…

Release Date: 1st Feb 2019
Catalogue No: BIS2318
Label: BIS
Length: 76 minutes

BBC Music Magazine

April 2019

Chamber Choice

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Rossini: Sonata a quattro No. 4 in B flat major

Work length17:50

$3.50

$6.45

$8.75

Minna Pensola (violin), Antti Tikkanen (violin), Tuomas Lehto (cello), Niek de Groot (double bass)
Recorded: October 2017
Recording Venue: Schauman Hall, Jakobstad (Pietarsaari), Finland

I. Allegro vivace

Track length10:58

$1.50

$3.85

$5.25

II. Andante

Track length3:47

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Allegretto

Track length3:05

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Hoffmeister: Double Bass Quartet No. 3

Work length13:46

$3.00

$3.90

$5.25

Niek de Groot (double bass), Minna Pensola (violin), Antti Tikkanen (viola), Tuomas Lehto (cello)
Recorded: October 2017
Recording Venue: Schauman Hall, Jakobstad (Pietarsaari), Finland

I. Moderato

Track length5:34

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Adagio

Track length4:10

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Tempo di minuetto

Track length4:02

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Rossini: Sonata a quattro No. 5 in E flat major

Work length14:20

$3.50

$5.20

$7.00

Minna Pensola (violin), Antti Tikkanen (violin), Tuomas Lehto (cello), Niek de Groot (double bass)
Recorded: October 2017
Recording Venue: Schauman Hall, Jakobstad (Pietarsaari), Finland

I. Allegro vivace

Track length7:39

$1.50

$2.60

$3.50

II. Andante

Track length3:10

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Allegretto

Track length3:31

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Hoffmeister: Double Bass Quartet No. 4

Work length14:26

$4.00

$5.20

$7.00

Niek de Groot (double bass), Minna Pensola (violin), Antti Tikkanen (viola), Tuomas Lehto (cello)
Recorded: October 2017
Recording Venue: Schauman Hall, Jakobstad (Pietarsaari), Finland

I. Allegro moderato

Track length4:14

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Menuett

Track length3:19

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Andante

Track length3:41

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Rondo

Track length3:12

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Rossini: Sonata a quattro No. 6 in D major 'La tempesta'

Work length16:08

$3.50

$5.20

$7.00

Minna Pensola (violin), Antti Tikkanen (violin), Tuomas Lehto (cello), Niek de Groot (double bass)
Recorded: October 2017
Recording Venue: Schauman Hall, Jakobstad (Pietarsaari), Finland

I. Allegro spirituoso

Track length7:48

$1.50

$2.60

$3.50

II. Andante assai

Track length2:11

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Allegro

Track length6:09

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

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This second and last volume completes two different sets of string quartets: the four so-called Solo Quartets by Franz Anton Hoffmeister and Gioachino Rossini’s six String Sonatas (or Sonate a quattro). Both sets differ from the ‘normal’ configuration in that they allow a double bass to take part, albeit in different roles. Rossini, who composed his sonatas at the age of 12 (!), left out the viola and gave the double bass a more or less conventional bass role – apart from the occasional virtuosic outburst. The sonatas were first published in an arrangement for traditional string quartet and are often heard performed by string orchestras.In Vienna, where he was active as a composer and music publisher, Hoffmeister (1754-1812) chose a different solution than Rossini and gave his double bass player a leading role in the ensemble, letting it replace the first violin. It was no coincidence that this happened in Vienna – considering the amount of solo works for the double bass composed there, the standard of playing must have been exceptional. On the present recording, it is the Dutch player Niek de Groot who takes up Hoffmeister’s challenge in the company of a Finnish trio consisting of Minna Pensola, Antti Tikkanen and Tuomas Lehto. Featuring the same team, Volume 1 (BIS-2317) was described by a reviewer in Gramophone as ‘entertaining, effortlessly enjoyable and beautifully performed’ upon its release in 2017.

Reviews

April 2019

In later life Rossini dismissed the quartets as ‘terrible’, but the truth – as made plain by the excellent performances on this recording – is that this music is much more than a mere prentice effort.

March 2019

De Groot’s top register is particularly sweet, and his phrasing shapely – both real assets in music which, with the best will in the world, is more polite than inspired. The other three players offer affectionate, elegant support, captured in sound that’s spacious but slightly boomy, especially in the crucial bottom register.

March 2019

An unusual and entertaining coupling suited to musical explorers.

Rossini & Hoffmeister: Quartets with Double Bass, Vol. 2

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