Frescobaldi: Aria detto Balletto

Frescobaldi was a genius among organists and was able to bend the music to the emotional requirements of the piece. This collection includes works from the manuscript Vaticano Chigi Q IV 25, “Fiori Musicali” and the manuscript of London Add. 40080 “Fioretti del Frescobaldi”. Edoardo Bellotti performs them on the Rejna Organ 1696, in the Church of St. Bernard in Sondrio Italy.

Richard Lester was described both by The Times and the Daily Telegraph as ‘one of our leading players’ and more recently acclaimed as ‘one of the greatest early music keyboard players of this or any other time.’ In 1981, Sir William Glock, former BBC controller of music invited him to perform a solo harpsichord recital at the Bath International Festival. Countless engagements at major international music festivals followed including the Bruges festival, Bath Bach festival and concerts at the Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and in 2007 a sell out solo recital at London's South Bank Centre.

Often dedicated to powerful patrons and perhaps heard by the likes of John Milton at private gatherings or public performances in Rome, many of Frescobaldi’s harpsichord works featured here display a new manner of playing with song-like affect, or “affetti cantabile.” The glorious harpsichord played on this recording was built in Italy during the 17th century by an anonymous maker and bears the signature “F.A. 1677”.