Platti & Vivaldi: 6 Sonatas for Cello & Basso Continuo

Featuring

Sebastian Hess
Axel Wolf
Giovanni Benedetto Platti
Antonio Vivaldi

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Critical Reception

Vivaldi expert Michael Talbot stated that Vivaldi's nine surviving cello sonatas are 'the best collection of instrumental chamber music that Vivaldi wrote'.

Composer Biography

Giovanni Benedetto Platti, an Italian oboist and violinist, was recruited in 1722 to work for Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn, the Prince Bishop of Würzburg, and remained there until his death.

Performer Biography

Sebastian Hess, the cellist on this recording, studied with William Pleeth and was selected for a masterclass with Mstislav Rostropovich at the International Cello Festival Kronberg.

Composition History

Vivaldi's violoncello sonatas featured on this album were acquired for the Schönborn-Wiesentheid collection through purchase, unlike Platti's works which were composed for the Count.

Historical Context

The album features violoncello music from the collection of the Count von Schönborn-Wiesentheid, highlighting the high appreciation for Italian music among German nobility in the 18th century.

Composition History

Platti's violoncello sonatas are closely linked to his personal relationship with Count Rudolf Franz Erwein von Schönborn, a passionate cellist who frequently invited Italian musicians to his residence.

Performer Biography

Axel Wolf, who plays lute and theorbo on this album, is known for his versatility, performing solo, chamber music, and opera, and has worked with numerous international ensembles.