Elena Denisova - 6 Sonatas for Violin Solo Op. 27 - Recordings - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Christoph Schaffrath (1709-1763) was a German composer, harpsichordist, and organist active during the transition from the late Baroque to the early Classical period. Born in Hohnstein near Dresden, he studied at the University of Leipzig and later competed for the position of organist at the Sophienkirche in Dresden, though he lost to Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Despite this setback, Schaffrath went on to build a solid career in Berlin, serving first as harpsichordist to Crown Prince Frederick (later Frederick the Great) and later as court musician to Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia. His role in these circles placed him in the heart of the north German Empfindsamer Stil, a style characterized by expressive melodies, sudden contrasts, and sensitivity to affect.Among Schaffrath's surviving works, the 12 Soli per il Cembalo hold a special place. This collection, composed for solo harpsichord, shows his ability to merge Baroque contrapuntal traditions with the emerging galant idiom. Each of the twelve pieces demonstrates clarity of texture, graceful melodic invention, and a keen sense of ornamentation appropriate for the keyboard. Unlike the dense polyphony of J.S. Bach, Schaffrath's Soli often feature a singing upper line supported by transparent accompaniment, making them more accessible to performers and audiences of his time.The sonatas show Schaffrath's sensitivity to the harpsichord's timbre and expressive limits, favoring elegance over virtuosic display. Today, the 12 Soli per il Cembalo offer valuable insight into mid-18th-century keyboard practice and exemplify the stylistic currents that paved the way for Haydn, C.P.E. Bach, and Mozart.Played by Marius Bartoccini, a keyboard player who performed as a soloist with Sigiswald Kuijken and Federico Maria Sardelli. On this recording he plays an harpsichord and clavichord. He recorded to great critical acclaim for Brilli

Elena Denisova is recognised as one of the most charismatic personalities of the international violin elite and sees herself as an ambassador of the magic of sound. She realises this as a passionate motto in all her interpretations of classical and 21st century works. It also applies to Bach's three sonatas for solo violin, which she performs here entirely in this spirit.

Neil Sedaka was one of the most successful and ubiquitous songwriters of the late '50s and early '60s, composing hits for artists like Connie Francis and Jimmy Clanton with his writing partner Howard Greenfield. However, he achieved an even higher profile as an interpreter of his own songs, rattling up a string of landmark classics like InchHappy Birthday Sweet SixteenInch, InchBreaking Up Is Hard to DoInch & InchOh CarolInch. This 2014 2-CD set includes the a & B sides of every single he released, including collectable tracks he recorded for other labels before he joined RCA, along with tracks which were included on the EPs which were released in different configurations around the world. It includes, interestingly, his own recording of InchStupid CupidInch which was a No. 1 success for Connie Francis. The collection plots his concentrated and highly successful early career up to 1962 before his style was overtaken by the British Invasion and he reinvented himself in the 1970s as a noted singer-songwriter. It's a splendid slice of top class rock 'n' roll era Brill Building pop, highlighting his distinctive writing & performing talents which many fans & collectors will not have heard before.