Harpsichord Music of Girolamo Frescobaldi Volume 1

Richard Lester, Harpsichord

“For a recital of Frescobaldi's keyboard works to be successful and enjoyable, the music needs to be played for its own sake, and not because Frescobaldi is considered one of the "fathers of Italian music". In approaching the dozen pieces on this first volume in a projected series Richard Lester, of course, puts the music first. At almost an hour and a quarter, the quantity is generous. Everything here have been chosen from three of Frescobaldi's publications, the Primo libro di Toccate e Partite d'intavolatura di cembalo (1615/1616-1637); the Secondo libro di Toccate, Canzone (1627/1637); and the Primo libro di Capricci, Ricercari e Canzoni (1624). This means that there is variety and freshness to the sequence of performances. What's more, by the end of the CD the listener feels a sense of occasion, of having moved through various changes in the composer's musical conception, almost. This is not only because Lester is so expert at conveying the architecture of these pieces (which must address their use of tempi), but also because he embarks upon each one with a sense of adventure, and a conviction that it will have music full of expressiveness and novelty (in the best sense of that word). One is nevertheless aware of the technical skills which the performer possesses – necessary to navigate the intricacies, guidance on the playing of which Frescobaldi actually left in a written preface.

Add to this a warm yet distinct recording acoustic, and a sense that Lester is indeed enjoying every minute – not least because he is so familiar with the music's every turn, as well as an appropriately personal engagement between composer, work and performer – and you have a spirited and decisive interpretation truly to be recommended.

The booklet with this CD contains much useful background… the salient features of Frescobaldi's life, explanations of fingering technique and tuning (mean-tone), interpretative detail and descriptions of the music itself. This is the first of what's to be a series. On the evidence of this release – aside from the caché conferred upon the enterprise by Lester, whose recent Scarlatti complete series has been so favorably received, on Classical Net as elsewhere – the others in the project are to be eagerly awaited.”

Taken from a review by Mark Sealey for Classical Net. For the full review please visit: http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/n/nim05850a.php