SOLER 6 CONCERTOS FOR 2 HARPSICHORDS

Alvarez, Agustin - Konzert Fuer 2 Cembali Nr. 1 C- 1. Andante 2. Minue Alvarez, Agustin - Konzert Fuer 2 Cembali Nr. 2 A- 1. Andante 2. Allegro 3. Tempo De Minue Alvarez, Agustin - Konzert Fuer 2 Cembali Nr. 3 G- 1. Andantino 2. Minue Alvarez, Agustin - Konzert Fuer 2 Cembali Nr. 4 F- 1. Affettuoso - Andante Non Largo 2. Minue Alvarez, Agustin - Konzert Fuer 2 Cembali Nr. 5 A- 1. Cantabile 2. Minue Alvarez, Agustin - Konzert Fuer 2 Cembali Nr. 6 D- 1. Allegro - Andante - Allegro - Andante 2. Minue Antonio Soler (1729-1783) was a scholar, musicologist (he wrote about the history of Spanish music), composer and virtuoso keyboard player. He was in the service of the Spanish Royal family, and personal tutor of the Infante Gabriel de Bórbon. Soler wrote a great quantity of solo keyboard sonatas for the use at the Royal court. They are one movement works, much in the style of the sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti (whom he knew personally). The sonatas abound in instrumental virtuosity, daring harmonies and attractive melodies in pre-classical style. Soler wrote the 6 Concertos for 2 Harpsichords for his royal pupil. Judging by the brilliance and vitality of these popular works the composer and his pupil must have hugely enjoyed themselves playing them… Played by the harpsichord duo L’entretien des clavecins, formed by Agustín Álvarez and Eusebio Fernandez-Villacanas, playing magnificent copies, built by Andrea Restelli, of a Taskin and Donzelague harpsichord. The Spanish harpsichordists Agustín Álvarez (b.1959) and Eusebio Fernández-Villacanas (b.1974) form the harpsichord duet L’entretien des clavécins. For this album they play on two instruments by the Milanese maker Andrea Restelli: a copy of a Pascal Taskin (Edinburgh 1769), and a copy of Pierre Donzelague (London 1711). They have presented the programme on this album in the context of a Goya exhibition at the Prado in Madrid, which houses many of the most renowned examples of his art. Agustín Álvarez harpsichord built by Andrea Restelli (Milano 2005) copy of Pascal Taskin (Edinburgh 1769) Eusebio Fernández-Villacanas harpsichord built by Andrea Restelli (Milano 2012) copy of Pierre Donzelague (London 1711) Recording: 10-12 October 2015, Diego de León, Madrid, Spain