Press Reviews

Music by Pasquale Anfossi, highly recommended by GERALD FENECH '... animated performances full of verve and spirit.' Pasquale Anfossi (1727-1797) was an Italian composer and violinist who successfully ventured into all musical genres of his time. He was very much in demand, especially where opera was concerned. His production from 1774 to 1789 counts about forty such works, both serious and comic, and these were staged in several Italian cities as well as abroad. Most important, Anfossi was among the protagonists of the Neapolitan musical school and, together with such famous names as Piccinni, Paisiello and Cimarosa, he raised the level of Opera buffa to its maximum splendour. In his works Anfossi managed to develop a tender and graceful lyrical vein that is able to leap easily to the comic using procedures that were later taken up by other contemporary composers. In Opera seria, Anfossi's production is directed decisively in the direction of the reform of Gluck and Traetta. Its originality, while following the usual tracks, is marked by a musicality of great dramatic power. Furthermore, Anfossi was part of the large group of enthusiasts of the 'Sinfonia', a musical form that the Neapolitan musical consolidated and developed with the enormous number of musicians who trained in the city, starting with Alessandro Scarlatti. Anfossi also contributed considerably to sacred music with a number of Masses, Antiphons and Oratorios. As far as occasional music is concerned, the cantata L'Armonia certainly deserves mention. The music, reported missing, was fortunately found by musicologist Mario Genesi in 2022. This may sound strange, but Anfossi's music exerted a strong influence on a young Mozart. Indeed, in later music criticism, it was established that Anfossi's La Finta Giardiniera and that by Mozart have many similarities, and that the Salzburger often followed the formal schemes of Anfossi's work and even adopted its rhythmic invention. This hugely entertaining disc is part of a project initiated by Concerto Classics, whose aim is to consolidate research of unpublished manuscript material preserved in the most important European libraries, proposing to music lovers the music of a great composer still little known. A programme made up of short pieces might not seem ideal to assess the music of an almost unknown composer, but all ten pieces on this compilation reveal a Mozartian contemporary brimming with a melodic vein that has suppleness written all over it. Indeed, Anfossi's music has imagination, originality and a beautifully lucid mixture of texture and colour that make it so attractive. Alessandro Fabrizi's conducting is consistently flexible, vibrant and permeated with an ardent desire to showcase what a gifted composer Anfossi is, and his Czech National Symphony Orchestra colleagues respond with some animated performances full of verve and spirit.

It looks like Mozart, but it's not Mozart… Whose is it? Pasquale Anfossi, Mozart's contemporary and occasional collaborator... who admired him greatly and inserted several arias into Anfossi's works, and who remembered some of his compositional techniques. This Concerto label had its good idea of recording (in CLIC MUSIQUE world premieres) some of Anfossi's symphonies and overtures, which have never been recorded so far – the terms here are almost synonymous: short orchestral pieces that act as a prelude to each act of the works (before the symphony designates the major form we know), in three movements Allegro-Andante-Allegro. Full of life, these symphonies are rich in rhythmic inventions, catchy themes, under the direction of a conductor who is careful to create impeccable dynamics; the Czech National Orchestra has fun for our greatest pleasure. Walter Appel The world premiere recording of the Symphonies & Overtures selection included on the CD took place in Prague on September 16, 2022 and, through a long and meticulous research work lasting several months, we managed to reunite the manuscripts preserved in various libraries around the world.

WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING, Pasquale ANFOSSI Pasquale Anfossi (1727-1797) wrote seventy-six operas including dramas, comic operas and intermezzi. He was admired by Mozart, who wrote several arias for two of Anfossi's operas. Yet today he is almost completely forgotten. Concerto Classics reports that after recording "After months of meticulous research, we managed to recover his manuscripts, which are preserved in various libraries around the world (Italy, Switzerland, France, Great Britain and the United States)." The CD therefore contains only world premiere recordings. Conductor Alessandro Fabrizi succeeds in bringing out the richness of the music, with its beautiful melodic ornamentation and bright colors. The expressive music, with its lively rhythms and colorful instrumentation, is performed attractively by the Czech orchestra. The orchestra plays fresh and temperamental, with much melodic consistency and a clear tonal character. The result is a very fresh, extremely vital sound. And since these are world premieres, we can only recommend this CD.

Aside from Haydn, this is the composer, 30 years his senior, from whom Mozart seems to have drawn the most inspiration. So much so that, while I was writing this review, someone else in the room exclaimed: "Is that Mozart? Maybe it's early Mozart." And indeed, as the liner notes points out: "The name Pasquale Anfossi is closely linked to that of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and it would not be an exaggeration to say that Anfossi had a certain influence on the Salzburg composer. Mozart not only knew Anfossi and read some of his letters, but also had a great admiration for the Italian Maestro, so much so that he was the only composer for whom he created the famous "Insertion Arias". It also seems that Mozart composed and added two soprano arias to Anfossi's opera "Il Curioso Indiscreto" (1777). Pasquale Anfossi (1727-1797) was an Italian composer whose goal was to write operas and oratorios. Various sources give accounts suggesting that he wrote between 45 and 70 operas and around 20 oratorios. Riding the wave from the late Baroque era to the shores of the early Classical period, his music was somewhat restrained and in keeping with the trends of the time, but at times, as in the E-flat Overture (audio clip below), he demonstrated a spark of creativity, especially in the slow movements. The Czech National Symphony Orchestra gives some of his finest Symphonies and Instrumental Overtures from these works. The Czech National Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Alessandro Fabrizi imbues his music with the same degree of elegance and wit that one would expect to hear from Mozart's operas, and also brings out his somewhat hidden dramatic talent. Listening to this recording will certainly make you realize that perhaps little Wolfgang was more derivative than original.

SHEIKH SAEED HALLS Dubai World Trade Centre "It was wonderful to be able to see a show like this in Dubai"

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – London – Cadogan Hall (Fidelio ov – Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo – Grieg: Concerto n.1 – Dvorak: Symphony n.9) "…Fidelio, received a very confident and accomplished performance from Fabrizi and the RPO. "…Fabrizi showed good sense in his choice of tempos as the music moved from the opening call to arms to the slower, more reflective sections of the overture. "…Fabrizi did an excellent job of bringing the yearning quality of the music. He seems to have much more of an instinct and intuition for this music and I really liked the way he opened and the way he led into a great romantic dimension of the piece.. "…Dvorak's New World Symphony was given a very good movement well. "…Fabrizi convinced by creating some splendid RPO colours in this movement and the whole thing flowed naturally and convincingly. "…I thought the finale was the furiant Czech and really enjoyed the cadence and sway that Fabrizi brought to the music while the trio section was playful and charming."

"Carmina Burana, what a success in the square for the symphony" "..Well-deserved applause for Alessandro Fabrizi who conducted with effective sobriety."

"Stabat Mater" by Rossini at the Romanian Athenaeum ..."The Orchestra plays very compact and with wonderful sonority under the baton of the Maestro Fabrizi. Ascetic and contemplative moments alternate with other ringing and imposing ones, always balanced. Excellent timing. A very refined and well done performance. The score that was paid tribute by a standing audience at the end of the performance."

"HOMAGE TO MARIA CALLAS IN BUCHAREST "... Shining the baton of Maestro Alessandro Fabrizi, who beautifully conducted arias and duets that have occurred one after the other: from Bellini to Mascagni, Maestro Fabrizi has skilfully treated different styles of authors, with a very large palette of colors, showing great sensitivity and knowledge. A very careful balance, which also allowed the orchestra to emerge brilliantly with the overtures and intermezzi performed in the opening and closing of the evening "...

"...Tchaikovsky at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra," London – Cadogan Hall 29/03/2011 "The brilliance of Tchaikovsky and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is unquestionable. The opening of the Capriccio Italiano is imbued with captivating swagger. The all-Italian fanfare that Tchaikovsky heard every day from the barracks adjacent to his Roman home pulses through Fabrizi's veins. Wonderful brass – even, solemn, clear, decisive. An impeccable interpretation of Tchaikovsky's brilliant orchestration. The melodies follow one another through the Florentine alleys and Roman passers-by. They too have a firm and confident cadence....." "....Listening to the Fourth Symphony at Cadogan Hall was almost as terrifying as it was perhaps for the composer when he composed it. The sharp blows of the strident warnings to the horrors of life alarmed and awakened the audience from a lifelong dream. ordinary, accommodating, full of pleasures. The show was splendid....masterful."

"M° Alessandro Fabrizi in concert in Constanta" "Il Trovatore, a well-known and much-loved Verdi opera, presented in an unforgettable version"....the harmony between the stage and the orchestra was a splendid demonstration of skill and knowledge of the musical discourse, due to the great professionalism of M° Fabrizi. Confident gestures, but expressive and soft at the same time, excellent timing for the singers, mastery over everything: this is what delighted the opera-loving audience of the beautiful city on the Black Sea".....

"Last Sunday was an unforgettable evening" ....."the audience applauded warmly and enthusiastically; the conductor and soloists were called to the stage several times".... ......"it was a very happy opening night"........