For a period instrumental ensemble, La Magnifica Comunità plays this music well, and the music is lovely. Boccherini’s string quintets with two cellos arguably represent his best work–certainly his most diverse. This collection of six pieces, for example, dates from 1772 and includes works in three movements, four movements, and a wide variety of movement types. No. 4 ends with a fugue; Nos. 5 and 6 start with slow movements. As usual with groups of this type, string timbres are somewhat raspy and vibrato is minimal, but the players soften their tone nicely for the E-flat major quintet’s Larghetto con espressione, as well as for the D minor quintet’s Andante sostenuto. This ambitious series already has run to around seven volumes, and if it gets through all 100-plus quintets it will be a major achievement. Let’s hope they don’t rush. Boccherini’s music is extremely detailed and subtle, and requires time to master. The microphones capture a bit too much breathing, but it’s not a serious problem. Recommended. [7/29/2009]
