Erin Ellis, cello.
Joseph Marie DALL’ABACO: 11 Capricci
Albany Records TROY1897
Release Date: May 2, 2022
Duration: 44:48
Giorgio Koukl | 24 OCT 2022
In this album, Erin Ellis presents the 11 capricci for violoncello solo by the not-so-well-known Italian composer Joseph dall’Abaco — or if you prefer the full name, Giuseppe Marie Clément Ferdinand dall’Abaco — born 27 March 1710, died 31 August 1805.
TROY1897
Charles Burney, the well-known English scholar, briefly mentions his presence among the most prominent violoncellists of that time in London (along with Lanzetti, Pasqualini, and Caporale). We have just one other notice of good success in Vienna and in other Austrian cities. Working for the prince-elector at Munich, Bonn, and Brussels apparently allowed him much liberty for a wide range of European tours.
Son of a better-known musician and composer Evaristo Felice dall’Abaco and an offspring of a prominent family of lawyers, he composed primarily for his own instrument, even if today scholars agree that probably most of his works are lost or still awaiting rediscovery.
This music is composed in an enjoyable, nearly baroque style, despite the fact that the composer lived an exceptionally long life well into the classical era.
Only a few details are known about his life. As said before, his successes mainly in Vienna and London has been documented, but also a rupture with his principal sponsor, who accused him of plotting assassination and chased him away from the court. Successive investigations never confirmed such a suspect, but dall’Abaco preferred staying in Verona and on his estate in Arbizzano di Valpolicella until his death.
The 11 Capricci for cello solo are skillfully composed, with a clear vision of what is effective on a solo instrument. Their usual length is between one and four minutes, thus never becoming dull or boring, even taking into consideration that we are far away from the masterpieces Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for solo cello.
Ellis is clearly in her element and can produce the whole array of bowing techniques, a skill which she possesses in abundance.
Her intonation is excellent, as is her choice of tempi. She takes every available advantage of what the score is offering her, being slightly more convincing in the quicker tempi, like the Capriccio No. 2, but plays very well the pizzicato-only Capriccio No. 5. There are other technical difficulties, like the double chord writing in Capriccio No. 7, a bowing technique frequently representing a burden only a few cellists can afford with satisfying results.
Ms. Ellis is even here entirely at her ease. She seems to play every single note effortlessly and with a fresh approach given only after a long and detailed study.
The recording is technically very convincing, with a good balance of bass and treble registers.
All in all, this is an easy recommendation for people who enjoy listening to solo cello music. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Erin Ellis: erincello.com
Giorgio Koukl is a Czech-born pianist/harpsichordist and composer who resides in Lugano, Switzerland. Among his many recordings are the complete solo piano works and complete piano concertos of Bohuslav Martinů on the Naxos label. He has also recorded the piano music of Tansman, Lutosławski, Kapralova, and A. Tcherepnin, amongst others, for the Grand Piano label. Koukl has most recently completed recording a second volume of the complete solo piano music of Polish composer Alfons Szczerbinski.
(photo: Chiara Solari)
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