Boccherini: String Trios, Op. 34 La Ritirata & Josetxu Obregon

• Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): String Trio in C Major, Op. 34 No. 5, G. 105:
• 1 String Trio in C Major, Op. 34 No. 5, G. 105: I. Largo 04:50
• 2 String Trio in C Major, Op. 34 No. 5, G. 105: II. Allegro vivo 05:11
• 3 String Trio in C Major, Op. 34 No. 5, G. 105: III. Andante lento con variazioni 08:55
• 4 String Trio in G Major, Op. 34 No. 2, G. 102: I. Allegretto comodo assai 08:01
• 5 String Trio in G Major, Op. 34 No. 2, G. 102: II. Minuetto - Trio 05:15
• 6 String Trio in G Major, Op. 34 No. 2, G. 102: III. Adagio 04:25
• 7 String Trio in G Major, Op. 34 No. 2, G. 102: IV. Rondeau. Allegro ma non presto 05:47
• 8 String Trio in D Major, Op. 34 No. 4, G. 104: I. Allegretto moderato assai 08:17
• 9 String Trio in D Major, Op. 34 No. 4, G. 104: II. Grave - Allegro - Grave 07:45
• 10 String Trio in D Major, Op. 34 No. 4, G. 104: III. Tempo di minuetto 04:09
• String Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 34 No. 3, G. 103:
• 11 String Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 34 No. 3, G. 103: I. Allegro vivo ma non presto 07:21
• 12 String Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 34 No. 3, G. 103: II. Largo non tanto 05:40
• 13 String Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 34 No. 3, G. 103: III. Minuetto - Trio 04:02
• 14 String Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 34 No. 3, G. 103: IV. Rondeau. Allegretto comodo 05:59
• Trio Sonata in F Major, Op. 34 No. 1, G. 101:
• 15 Trio Sonata in F Major, Op. 34 No. 1, G. 101: I. Andante lento 06:06
• 16 Trio Sonata in F Major, Op. 34 No. 1, G. 101: II. Allegro con brio 07:36
• 17 Trio Sonata in F Major, Op. 34 No. 1, G. 101: III. Minuetto - Trio 06:13
• String Trio in E Major, Op. 34 No. 6, G. 106:
• 18 String Trio in E Major, Op. 34 No. 6, G. 106: I. Allegro giusto 06:09
• 19 String Trio in E Major, Op. 34 No. 6, G. 106: II. Larghetto 03:15
• 20 String Trio in E Major, Op. 34 No. 6, G. 106: III. Minuetto con moto - Trio 03:01
• 21 String Trio in E Major, Op. 34 No. 6, G. 106: IV. Rondeau. Andante un poco lento 04:24
• Total Runtime 02:02:21

Info for Boccherini: String Trios, Op. 34

Different stages in the life of Luigi Boccherini are clearly mapped out in the music he wrote. None more so than the 6 String Trios, Op 34 written around 1781 – at the time of the Stabat mater – during the nine-year period when the composer forsook the precariousness of life within the hustle and bustle of Madrid for the tranquillity of Arenas de San Pedro, nearer Ávila, as he followed his patron, the Infante Luis de Borbón, in the latter’s banishment from the Spanish court. In conditions of comfort for himself and his young family Boccherini prospered on the artistic level as well: some 80 compositions emerged, many for the regular chamber music performances called for by the Enlightened prince, the maecenas also for painters such as Goya, Flipart and Paret.

In a pair of its earlier recordings, newly remastered and now appearing on Glossa, La Ritirata demonstrates complete sympathy with the Classical- era intentions of a composer in full maturity: no surprise when the three players are of the calibre of violinists Hiro Kurosaki and Lina Tur Bonet and cellist Josetxu Obregón. In this string trio configuration, Boccherini demanded great technical skill from the musicians, notably from the cello part (he was a virtuoso on the instrument himself) and requiring it to take on much of the role assumed by the viola in a quartet. Pervading all is the composer’s melodic invention, his preference for the galant style and the harmonic boldness which together assured his popularity throughout Europe at the time.

Hiro Kurosaki, violin
Lina Tur Bonet, violin
Josetxu Obregón, cello

Josetxu Obregón
Born in Bilbao, he studied cello, chamber music and conducting at Bachelor and Masters level in Spain and Holland, where he studied baroque cello at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and was mentored by Anner Bylsma.

Josetxu performs on a regular basis at the most prestigious concert halls in 18 different European countries, the United States, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Japan and China; at venues such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Tokyo Opera City, Centro Nacional de las Artes de México, the Royal Festival Hall London. He has played with some of Europe’s most important ensembles, such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and in the context of Early Music with Le Concert des Nations (Jordi Savall), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and as first cellist of L’Arpeggiata (Christina Pluhar), EUBO (European Union Baroque Orchestra) and Arte dei Suonatori, among others.

He has recorded for Virgin, Verso, Arsis, Columna Música and The Gift of Music record labels and also for BBC3, NPS Radio 3 Holland, Mezzo, the Spanish National Radio and TV and the Macedonian TV, among others.

Josetxu plays an original 1740 cello by Sebastian Klotz and recently he had the honor to play at the Palacio Real de Madrid the Stradivarius 1700 that belongs to the Spanish Royal Collection.

Booklet for Boccherini: String Trios, Op. 34