Zelenka: Trio Sonatas cover
Released

From the first measure to the last, the trio sonatas of Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745) hold us in their spell. The combination of instruments—two oboes, bassoon, and basso continuo, with a violin replacing an oboe in the third sonata—is as unique as the music highlighting their colors, which justifies Heinz Holliger’s championing of this long-forgotten corpus. Although the oboes and violin shine as one would expect, Zelenka’s bassoon continuo is nothing short of extraordinary. Like concerti grossi in miniature form, each sonata is a galaxy unto itself.

Tyran Grillo

Recommended by

Suggestions
Book of Ways cover

Book of Ways

Keith Jarrett
Dolmen Music cover

Dolmen Music

Meredith Monk
Bach Sonatas cover

Bach Sonatas

Michala Petri, Keith Jarrett
Brahms, Stravinsky: Violin Concertos cover

Brahms, Stravinsky: Violin Concertos

Hilary Hahn, Neville Marriner
Vivaldi: Stabat Mater cover

Vivaldi: Stabat Mater

Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini, Sara Mingardo
Verklärte Nacht cover

Verklärte Nacht

Thomas Zehetmair, Camerata Bern
Arias for Guadagni cover

Arias for Guadagni

Iestyn Davies, Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen