A delightful programme of works featuring the clarinet in various settings by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), one of the greatest opera composers of 19th-century Italy, and his brother Giuseppe Donizetti (1788-1856), who was a military music master of an Austrian regiment stationed in Italy. In 1831 the Turkish Sultan asked him to form his empire’s military band along central European lines. He was able to gain high esteem and favour from the Sultan, transferring the musical style of Italian music on the shores of the Bosphorus with great success. He died in Constantinople on 10 February 1856. The programme is highly varied and ranges from works for solo clarinet to arias for voices, clarinet and piano, and a wind sextet.

Brilliantly performed by Luigi Magistrelli, one of the leading clarinet players of Italy, seconded by a fine selection of Italian soloists. Magistrelli made many recordings for Brilliant Classics with works by C.P.E. Bach (95307), Giuliani (95541), Kummer (94472), Archduke Rudolph (94952), Rebay (94171) and Fuchs (96305).

‘Luigi Magistrelli is a skilled artist, with the fingers and the enthusiasm for Weber.’ – Gramophone