Few composers had as colorful history as Alessandro Stradella. He took part in a scheme to embezzle money from the Catholic Church and had to flee Rome. He was an inveterate womanizer, causing not one but two families to take out a contract on him (as he hastily left town). The first group of assassins […]
Newton
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Agostino Steffani Cantatas — Handel’s inspiration?
Agostino Steffani (1650-1723) was a master of Baroque vocal chamber music. This Italian composer spent most of his professional career in Germany, first in Munich then at the court of Hanover. He composed exclusively for the voice; sacred works, secular cantatas and operas. This recording features two of the solo cantatas and four of the […]
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Janacek Piano Works
Who better to present a recital of a composer’s music than an artist who studied with him? Rudolf Firkusny began his musical career under the tutelage of Leos Janacek, which gives his interpretation of Janacek’s solo piano works special significance. All of Janacek’s major works for the instrument are present: Piano Sonata 1.X.1905, On an […]