The re-issue of this 3CD set, which first appeared some 12 years ago (CDA66871/3), is both welcome and timely; if only for the fact that it gives critics and listeners alike, another chance to assess Veracini's art and its importance on the Italian baroque. Born in Florence in 1690, Francesco Maria Veracini had a very colourful career. His early years were characterized by a lot of traveling. In 1711 he appeared in Venice and three years later he visited London and Dusseldorf before settling in Dresden working as a highly paid member of the Italian establishment in court.
Shortly before he left this city in August 1772 to return to Ital, the composer nearly killed himself by jumping from a window. But he survived and remained in Italy until 1733 from were he traveled to London in 1745. His last years were pretty uneventful and he died in 1768.
The Sonate Accademiche Op. 2 were published in 1744 and they represent the artistic zenith of Veracini's violin language. They are fascinatingly inventive pieces which reveal the composer as one of the major baroque figures of his day. The performances are light and easygoing. A must for those who missed this set first time round.
Copyright © 2007, Gerald Fenech