Search - Antonio Bertali, Juan Cabanilles, Dario Castello :: Folias Festivas - Belladonna Baroque Quartet (Dorian)

Exhilarating!

06/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lots of early music types will be familar with the folia, a catchy dance form on a ground bass. Have no fear that an all-folia CD will be monotonous-- the selection of repertoire here shows terrific variety; a few are excellent arrangements of keyboard works for their particular forces (hps, vln, vcl and rec) by a couple of the players. Besides the tasty repertoire, these are the most delightful performances-- virtuosic playing from each person. I listened to it several times in a row when I first got it, and each time was more impressed by both the programming and the playing. I first listened in my car, in fact, and can vouch for its efficacy in distracting me from the horrors of rush hour. I couldn't stop talking about it for a couple of weeks, and am hoping that writing about it will relieve my compulsion to gush about it to everyone I meet."