Presents
Giovanni Bottesini
Gran Quintetto (String Quintet) in c minor, Op.99
For 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass
Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889) was born in the northern Italian town of Crema. His first music lessons were from his father a professional clarinetist and composer. He studied violin locally and applied for a scholarship to the Milan Conservatory and might have pursued a career as a violinist but for the fact that there were no openings for violinists, only one for a bass player. He hastily took up the bass and won the scholarship. His talent was such that after graduating he was able to embark on a solo career and soon became known as the Paganini of the Double Bass. He traveled widely not only throughout Europe but he also visited the United States and briefly served as principal double-bass in the Italian opera at Havana. Apart from his triumphs as a performer, Bottesini was a conductor of European reputation, and conducted at several important opera houses including the Théâtre des Italiens in Paris as well as the Lyceum Theatre in London. He was chosen by Verdi to conduct the first performance of Aida. Besides several operas and many works for double bass, he was a co-founder of the Chamber Music Society of Florence and composed several string quartets as well as a number of string quartets and quintets. His works for bass remain standard repertoire for accomplished double bassists to this day.
Bottesini wrote his Gran Quintetto in c minor in 1858 while sojourning in Naples. It was dedicated to his friend Saverio Mercadante, who had written a string quintet for Paganini. The opening movement, Allegro moderato, begins in dramatic fashion, with the first violin singing a fetching operatic melody. This subject goes through extensive and interesting development. A heavily accented, pounding Scherzo serves as the second movement. A gentler trio section provides a nice contrast. The Adagio which follows is a combination of relaxed, delicate, long lined melodies, which in the middle are suddenly interrupted by a storm-like, highly dramatic, powerful episode. The finale, Allegro con brio, begins with a series of downward plunging passages creating a sense of urgency before the appearance of a march-like, triumphant theme.
Rarely available, we have reprinted the first edition of 1858. This is an exciting work which is sure to make a hit if brought into the concert hall.
Parts: $29.95
