I think ESSAY is running out of titles for this series, but never mind. This latest installment of music whose selection was inspired by the Aubrey-Maturin novels of Patrick O’Brian maintains the high standards of the previous two issues in providing an imaginative selection of light 18th-century fare. This particular collection consists entirely of duos for violin and cello, excellently played by Mela Tenenbaum and Yosif Feigelson. The biggest discovery is Federico Fiorillo’s Duet in C Op. 31 No. 1, a very substantial work lasting more than 16 minutes. Stamitz’s Duet No. 6 also reveals the fine level of craftsmanship for which his entire family was renowned, while Bréval’s two-movement (allegro plus minuet) Duet No. 1 in B-flat also features music of some substance, comparatively speaking. Diverting shorter works by Platti, Fiala, Nardini, and Vivaldi round out this well recorded collection, one that does exactly what it sets out to: engagingly document the light entertainment of a bygone era.
