Despite the elite circle of friends and colleagues -- which included Corelli, Valentini, Scarlatti, Locatelli, and even Handel -- that surrounded Giovanni Mossi, his fame as a composer did not last much beyond his 1742 death. As a violinist himself, it was only natural that his first published set of works would be a set of six sonatas for violin with cello and harpsichord. The influence of Corelli on Mossi's works is clear, yet Mossi branched out from the more rigid movement structure used by Corelli and did more to explore neighboring tonal areas. Performing these six charming works is Baroque violinist Leila Schayegh joined by violinist Ilze Grudele and harpsichordist Jörg Halobek. Schayegh's tone is sweet and clear, her intonation is precise, and her dynamics do a nice job shaping the musical lines. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of her performance, as detailed in her liner notes, would be her choices regarding ornamentation, which are applied organically and brilliantly throughout the album. Recorded sound quality is pleasant, with a nice balance between the three instruments, and doesn't unduly favor the violin line. Despite all of these positive attributes, Schayegh's still feels a bit safe and minimally enthusiastic. Fans of music from this era will still find this an appealing addition to their collections.
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