Porpora: Cello Concertos & Sonatas

This new recording brings together all Nicola Porpora's works for cello and continuo-with or without strings- from well-known works to unpublished pieces by, or at least attributed to, the great Neapolitan master. Most of the unpublished works come from the archives of the New York Public Library which has recently yielded a number of surprises in this field.

It is not surprising, given the great popularity of the cello as solo instrument among composers of the Neapolitan School, that Porpora wrote so notable a number of works for the instrument. He played the cello himself and his cello music reveals his in-depth knowledge of the instrument and the most advanced techniques of the day.

The works recorded here are concertos for cello and strings, sonatas for cello and b.c., a Sinfonia and a sonata for cello solo.

This set marks another triumph of research by Renato Criscuolo and his Ensemble Musica Perduta, playing on period instruments. Criscuolo has already recorded unpublished works by Handel and Pergolesi for Brilliant Classics. He himself wrote the excellent liner notes in the booklet.