In the first half of the 18th century, London was the largest and most populous city in Europe, and a stable kingdom dominated by the artistic presence of George Frideric Handel, whose music became a lasting stylistic model.
Composer Biography
Giuseppe Agus, a violinist and composer, was born in Cagliari, Sardinia, in 1722 and later emigrated to London after failing to secure a position as first violinist in his hometown.
Composer Biography
Giuseppe Agus faced economic hardship, with his firm declared bankrupt in 1776, which led him to move to Paris, where he later became a teacher at the Conservatoire.
Compositional Technique
The sonatas on this album are primarily modeled on the Corellian sonata a tre, but are also influenced by Handel and the emerging galant style.
Composer Biography
Giuseppe Agus's biography was confused for a long time with that of his son, Joseph Francis Agus, due to their shared name and both being composer-violinists in London.
Compositional Technique
Giuseppe Agus's debut sonata cycle, 'Six Solos for a violin with a thorough bass for the harpsichord, Op. 1', features a clear simplification of writing, almost entirely excluding counterpoint and prioritizing melody.
Performer Biography
The Quartetto Vanvitelli, founded in 2017, specializes in early 18th-century chamber music and is named after a great architect, embodying inspiration and elegance.
