Commanding the Passions Sonatas by Francesco Barsanti - enjoyed by GERALD FENECH '... performances are consistently versatile, accurate and poetic.'

The early musical life of Francesco Barsanti, who was born in Lucca, circa 1690, is shrouded in mystery, but we do know that by 1714 he was in London trying to launch his musical career in earnest. He soon became a flutist and oboist at the Italian Opera where he met a fellow Italian, Francesco Geminiani, who later made a name for himself as one of the foremost baroque composers of his time. Around 1720 Barsanti moved to Edinburgh where he remained for around thirty years teaching and composing. Most of his compositions date from this period beginning with the group of works on this recording, which were published in London in 1724...

FRANCESCO BARSANTI

GLOSSA MUSIC

RECORDER MUSIC

VIOLA DA GAMBA MUSIC

HARPSICHORD MUSIC