The first documented use of the word 'violoncello' appeared in 1665 in a work by Bolognese composer Giulio Cesare Arresti, highlighting the instrument's early popularity in Bologna.
Instruments
Sol Gabetta, one of the performers on this album, plays a cello made by G.B. Guadagnini in 1759, equipped with gut strings and a Baroque bow.
Composer Biography
Domenico Gabrielli, a prolific opera composer and virtuoso cellist, elevated the cello to a solo instrument with his 1689 Ricercari for unaccompanied cello, which were precursors to Bach's solo suites.
Compositional Technique
The 18th-century obbligato aria, featured on this album, created a musical 'duel' by pitting a singer against an instrumentalist, demanding high virtuosity from both.
Historical Context
While obbligato instruments in opera arias became rare in Italy after 1720, their inclusion was still encouraged at the imperial court in Vienna due to more conservative tastes.
Instruments
The cello, with its vocal and near-human quality, is uniquely suited for a 'conversational intimacy' with the human voice that no other instrument can match.
Album & Artwork
The album title, "Dolce Duello" (Sweet Duet/Duel), refers to the musical contests between singers and instrumentalists that flourished in the Baroque era.
