Michel Corrette’s father was an organist, and his grandfather was a dancing master. It’s no surprise that he became an accomplished composer, teacher, and organist. During his lifetime, (1707-1795), he watched the musical shift from the Baroque style to the Classical style. This transition is obvious in his music, which changes from the strict Baroque form to the transparent classical language. Italian group Opera Prima, led by Cristiano Contadin, performs Corrette’s “Les delices de la solitude.” The work is a series of sonatas scored for viola da gamba, cello, bassoon and continuo, and is full of dramatic melodies and rhythms, and laced with emotional tension.
