Music for ‘The Cardinal King’: the only complete available recording of an engaging chamber-collection from 18th-century Rome, written for the head of a renegade English Catholic family in exile.

Several previous Brilliant Classics albums have given notice of the under-appreciated gifts of Carlo Tessarini (1690-1766). Collections of his violin and flute sonatas have revealed a consistently inspired and stylish voice, reliably well-turned melodies and shapely instrumental parts rewarding players and listeners alike. The same qualities illuminate this collection of five Allettamenti da Camera, composed in Rome in 1740 and dedicated to His Royal Highness Henry Duke of York. By that stage in his career, the Rimini-born Tessarini had worked for courts and aristocratic patrons in Venice and Urbino. He had lately moved south to Rome, perhaps in hope of currying favour with the Stuarts, who had lived in the city as celebrated exiles for some years. Surely no dedicatee, whatever their musical expertise, could fail to be delighted by music of such accomplishment and sunny elegance.

Each of the five Allettamenti is cast in a tripartite quick-slow-quick form of sonata movements, and they are crowned by a virtuosic, two-part Capriccio which allots a starring role to the solo violin in a set of increasingly elaborate variations. All the same, Tessarini departed for Naples shortly after their composition, and continued on his travels across Europe, finding receptive audiences in France, England and the Netherland, where he died early in 1767.

This new recording has been made by an ensemble of Italian early-music specialists who have gathered for the purpose under the banner of the Cappella Musicale Enrico Stuart. They are led by the violinist Gabriele Pro, who is joined by Andrea Lattarulo (cello), Michele Carreca (theorbo and guitar) and Simone El Oufir Pierini (harpsichord). Pierini has won glowing opinions for previous Brilliant Classics albums dedicated to the music of Cherubini (96246), de Montgéroult (96247) and Tinazzoli (96865).