LINA TUR BONET & MUSICA ALCHEMICA bring new shine to ‘Il Grosso Mogul’ of Vivaldi

LINA TUR BONET & MUSICA ALCHEMICA have recently released a superb new recording of ‘Il Grosso Mogul’. The CD “Antonio Vivaldi Il Grosso Mogul, Violin Concertos & Sonatas” includes some of the lesser known music of Vivaldi (1678-1741). This is a thoroughly enjoyable recording that highlights the virtuosity of Lina Tur Bonet and the beauty of the music.

by Corina J Poore

A virtuoso violinist himself, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi achieved fame for his improvisations, also known as ‘phantasies’ or cadenzas. He could play at astounding speeds with astonishing dexterity and he pioneered a plethora of ‘effects’ on the violin that had not been previously used, like pizzicato and muting. He was truly the celebrity of his moment, the super star of the violin, and people flocked to watch him playing difficult passages with ease. He took advantage of his own ability, to write music that showed off his talents and he expanded the development of the solo concerto, as few others had done before him, influencing countless composers like Tartini and Lecair. Of the almost 640 works he composed for the violin, 253 are Violin concertos. His works impressed JS Bach so deeply, that he quite openly transcribed a number of his works for harpsichord and organ, including Vivaldi’s Concerto for 4 Violins in B Minor (Op3 N° 10 (RV580).

‘Il Grosso Mogul’, a Violin Concerto in D Major RV 208, is an early work, from 1710, in three movements. This recording By Lina Tur and Música Alchemica is immaculately produced and compulsive listening.

Lina Tur Bonet, Vivaldi and puppets.

The key of D Major (also known as Re Mayor) is the brightest of all. It is also a popular key in some of Mozart’s best work. Possibly due to its position in the frequency range, it is a key that sparkles with brilliance and you could say, sunshine. The title ‘Il Grosso Mogul’, is believed to allude to the Indian Court of the Grand Mughal Akbar. It has also been linked to the opera libretto of Domencio Lalli, titled ‘Il Gran Mogul’, referring to the opulence of the fabulous Oriental Court. There is also the link with Marco Polo, a Venetian who also emerged from the terra of Vivaldi, albeit some years earlier (14th century) so that references to oriental courts are unlikely to be totally coincidental.

There are 3 movements in ‘Il Grosso Mogul’. The first, an ‘Allegro in D Major’, is bright and dynamic with a fanfare effect. Although it does have some sections in minor keys, it is very demanding on the agility and ability of the soloist and Lina Tur does not disappoint.

The second ‘Recitative Grave in B Minor’ is performed by the soloist accompanied by the bass. This central movement is elaborate and mysterious, focussing on the violin, showing a depth and emotional range that was unusual for works of the time. It has inventive and ornate arabesques that are fresh and new. Thanks to the melodic cadencies, there is a sense of grace and freedom emanating from the rich rhythms and harmonics.

So, when the finale ‘Allegro, re-merges, also in the brilliant and energetic D Major, it has the effect of providing a welcome resolution to the whole piece, exploiting the virtuosity of the soloist with arpeggios and a variety of changing forms that end in a long section with the bass acting as a counterpoint to the agility and speed of the violin.

There have been many versions of Il Grosso Mogul but not so many of the lesser known works also included in this compilation. In fact, the Johann Georg Pisendel Allegro from the Violin Concerto in A minor (rev by Vivaldi) and the Violin Concerto in D Major (RV226) are both World Première recordings.

LINA TUR BONET is the soloist and the director of the group Música Alchemica. A huge talent, she is almost permanently touring around the world, have just left Buenos Aires, where she was performing, to continue to Japan. We are lucky that she has found time to record this dazzling little CD. Born in Spain, she was learning music from the age of three thanks to her father Antonio Tur. She continued her studies later, in Freiburg and Vienna and studied under eminent maestros like Tibor Varga, Franco Gulli, Shmuel Askenasi, Augustin Dumay among many others. She has been awarded a number of scholarships from the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, the Seneca Foundation and the ÖAD in Austria.

Now, she is the one who gives courses in the Conservatorio Superior de Aragón and in the Superior Centre of Katarina Gurska. Having worked under top conductors like Claudio Abbado, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Reinhardt Goebel, she is well placed to direct her own group Música Alchemica. She has achieved fame largely for her interpretations of Baroque Music, being especially gifted in her improvisations in the ‘cadenzas’. She has also recorded “La Goia” with sonatas of Arcangelo Corelli, 2 “Vivaldi Premières” Biber Mystery sonatas, Bocherini and others.

Release date Sept 21st 2018 /catalogue N° PC10391 /Label PAN Classics / 69 min

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8497582--vivaldi-il-gros…

Música Alchemica:

Violin Soloist Lina Tur Bonet

Concertos:

Violins Valerio Losito, Eduardo Fenoll. Isaac M Pulet, Olivier Fourés

Viola Natan Paruzel

Baroque Cello Mauro Valli

Double Bass Angy Ackerman

Theorbo Josep María Martí

Harpsichord Dani Espasa

Sonatas: