Here's a second release from BrilliantClassics of the Neapolitan musicianFrancesco Mancini (1672–1737), a leadinglight in his city's culture of compositionand education as director of theConservatorio di S Maria di Loreto,maestro of the Royal Chapel and composerof 29 operas and more than 200 cantatas.His modern reputation largely rests onhis recorder sonatas (available on 94058);the new release extends our knowledge ofthat cheerful aesthetic to his recorder concertos, in similarly sprightly, periodinstrumentperformances by young musicianswith a background in this repertoire.Corina Marti studied at the ScholaCantorum Basiliensis, famed nursery of talent in the performance of early music,and the concertos are led from thekeyboard by another Swiss-based musician,Alexandra Nigito, who has already provedher expertise in this music with recordingsof cantatas by Pasquini (on 94225).The recorder concertos are moredemanding to play than to listen to.One unusual stylistic trademark is thepreponderance of fugue in the fastmovements, but that does not imply a drylyacademic style – like Mancini's sonatas,the concertos are full of memorable anddeftly surprising melodies.

OTHER INFORMATION:

• Performed on period instruments.• Recorded in May 2011 in Rome.• Includes booklet notes in English and Italian.

TRACK LIST

• Concerto VIII in c minor• Concerto V in G major• Concerto XIX in e minor• Concerto XX in c minor• Concerto XVIII in F major• Concerto XIV in g minor• Concerto X in B-flat major• Concerto I in c minor• Concerto XIII in g minor• Concerto XVI in F major• Concerto VI in d minor• Concerto XVII in a minor