Geminiani: Cello Sonatas, Op. 5

The early works of Francesco Geminiani (ca. 1680-1762) were still "corellized" in the style of his adopted country, England. However, from the cello sonatas Op. 5 onwards at the latest, his melodies were more winding and often took unpredictable turns, as if they had been improvised. The irregular melody formation, the ornamentation and the expressive power of their lines made these compositions seem very unusual and thus probably did not correspond to the common English musical taste of the time. However, it is precisely this aspect that captivates us today. Geminiani's music is so expressive that his cello sonatas Op. 5 can rightly be described as the most important of his time.