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Albinoni, Tomaso Giovanni (8th June 1671-17th January 1751)

He was a Baroque composer born in Venice, Italy to a wealthy family where his father was a paper merchant.

He studied singing and the violin and although not a lot is known about his early life it is thought that he may have been employed by the Duke of Mantua, Fernando Carlo, who was a violinist that he dedicated his Opus 2 to.

He achieved acclaim as an opera composer throughout Italy as well as writing instrumental music, and the first Italian oboe concertos, prolifically.  As he had independent means he never sought employment at a court or in the church and in 1722 the Elector of Bavaria, who he had dedicated a set of concertos to, invited him to Munich to direct his own operas.

After 1740 it seems that he lived in obscurity in Venice having successfully published so many of his works that had brought him so much acclaim as a younger man.

His compositions include 50 operas, 12 ballets, 40 cantatas, 59 concerti, 79 sonatas and his most famous piece, Adagio in G, that was not discovered until after WWII and reconstructed by Remo Giazotto in 1949.   His compositions have appeared regularly on countless films and television programmes.

He died in the parish of San Barnaba, Venice , when he was 79.

Adagio in G Minor,

  1. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (ASMF)Conductor – Neville Marriner, Violin -I. Brown, EMI Classics 5 66400 0
  2. ASMF/Marriner – Seraphim 5 73289 2
  3. Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert Von Karajan – DG 419 046-2
  4. Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan – D. G. 445 282-2
  5. Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Muller Bruhl – Naxos 8.557124
  6. Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert Kegel – Laserlight 15 688
  7. English Chamber Orchestra, Michael Conn, guitar – London 52012
  8. English String Orchestra, William Boughton – Nimbus NI 7019
  9. The Eroica Trio – EMI 57906
  10. Hokan Hardenberger, trumpet; Simon Preston, organ – Philips 434 074-2
  11. I Solisti Veneti – Claudio Scimone – Erato ECD 55018
  12. Lucerne Festival Strings/ Rudolf Baumgartner – DG 413 248 2
  13. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra – GH 429 390
  14. Jean-Francois Paillard Chamber Orchestra – Erato 2292 45200
  15. Sara Sant’Ambrogio, cello; Anyssa Neuman, piano – Sebastian Records 8 24611 02002
  16. Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra –Munchinger – Decca 475 8073

 Concerto in C Major for Trumpet, 3 Oboes, Bassoon and Continuo

  1.  The King’s Consort – King – Hyperion 66383

 OPUS 2

Concerto No 4 in G, Op. 2, No. 8

  1. La Serenissima – Avie 2106

Sonata a Cinque No. 5 in D Op.2

  1. I Musici – Philips 432 115- 2

Sonata a Cinque No. 6 in G Minor, Op. 2

  1. Capella Istropolitana/Jaroslav Krechek – Naxos 550877

OPUS 5

Concerto a Cinque No.1 in B Flat, Op.5

  1. I Musici – Philips 422 251 – 2
  2. I Musici – Philips 464 052 – 2

Concerto a Cinque No. 2, Op.5

  1. I Musici – Philips 464 052 – 2
  2. Le Cameriste – Tactus 670101

Concerto a Cinque No.3 in D, Op.5

  1. I Musici – Philips 464 052 – 2

Concerto a Cinque No.5 in A Minor, Op.5

  1. I Musici – Philips 464 052 – 2

Concerto a Cinque No.6 Op.5

  1. I Musici – Philips 464 052 – 2

Concerto a Cinque No.9 in E Minor, Op.5

  1. I Musici – Philips 464 052 – 2

OPUS 6

Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 6

  1. The Locatelli Trio – Hyperion CDA 66831 

OPUS 7

Concerto No.1 for Oboe in D Major, Op.7

  1. Berlin Chamber Orchestra/Negri – Philips 464 052 – 2
  2. I Musici – Philips 432 115 – 2
  3. The London Virtuosi/ Georgiadis/ Camden/ Alty – Naxos 8.553002

Concerto No. 3 in B Flat for Oboe, Strings and Continuo, Op. 7

  1. Berlin Chamber Orchestra/Negri, Waetzig – Philips 464 052 – 2
  2. Collegium Musicum 90/ Standage/ Robson – Chandos 0579
  3. I Musici / Heinz Holliger – Philips 432 115-2
  4. London Virtuosi/Georgiades, Camden – Naxos 8.553002
  5. Philharmonia Orchestra/S. Wright, J. Anderson, oboe – NIM 5188

Concerto No. 4 in G, Op.7

  1. I Musici – Philips 432 115 – 2

Concerto No. 5 for 2 Oboes in C Major, Op.7

  1. London Virtuosi, Anthony Camden and Alison Alty, Oboes – Naxos 8.553035

Concerto a Cinque No. 6 for Oboe in D Major, Op. 7

  1. I Musici; Heinz Holliger, oboe – Philips 432 115-2
  2. I Solisti Italiani /Hansjorg Schellenberger-Oboe – Denon 2301
  3. Philharmonia Orchestra – Wright, John Anderson, oboe – Nimbus 7027

Concerto No.7 in A for Strings, Op.7

  1. I Musici – Philips 432 115 – 2
  2. I Musici – Philips 475 7757 – 7

Concerto No. 8 in D for Two Oboes, Op. 7

  1. I Musici, Holliger, Bourgue – Philips 432 115 – 2

Concerto for Strings No. 10 in Bb, Op.7

  1. Collegium Musicum 90 – CHAN 0610

Concerto No. 11 for 2 Oboes in C Major, Op. 7

  1. Collegium Musicum 90, A. Robson, C. Latham, oboes – CHAN 0610
  2. London Virtuosi, Anthony Camden and Alison Alty, oboes – Naxos 8.553035
  3. I Musici, H. Holliger, M. Bourgue, oboe –  PHI 432 115

Concerto No. 12 in C for Oboe, Strings and continuo, Op. 7

  1. I Musici/ Holliger – Philips 432 115
  2. The London Virtuosi/ Georgiadis/ Camden – Naxos 8.553035

OPUS 9

Concerto No.1 for Oboe, Op.9

  1. I Musici – Philips 456 333 – 2

Concerto No. 2 for Oboe in D minor, Op 9

  1. Budapest Strings R. Friedrich, trumpet – Capriccio 10 768
  2. Collegium Musicum 90/ Standage/ Robson – Chandos 0579
  3. Cologne Chamber Orchestra/Mueller Bruhl – Naxos 8 .557124
  4. Guildhall String Ensemble; Malcolm Messiter – oboe – RCA 0 9026 60224 2 7

Concerto No.5 for Oboe in C, Opus 9

  1. Collegium Musicum 90, A. Robson, oboe – Chandos 0579

Concerto No. 6 for 2 oboes in G Major, Op. 9

  1. Kings Consort, Paul Goodwin/Lorraine Woods-Oboes – Hyperion 66383
  2. The London Virtuosi/ Georgiadis/ Camden/ Alty – Naxos 8.553002

Concerto for Strings No. 7 in D Major, Op.9

  1. Collegium Musicum 90 – CHAN 0610

Concerto a Cinque No. 8 in G Minor, Op. 9

  1. Collegium Musicum 90/ Standage/ Robson – Chandos 0579
  2. I Musici/ Heinz Holliger-Oboe – Philips 420 189
  3. I Solisti Italiani, Schellenberger (oboe) – Denon CO 2301

Concerto No. 9 for 2 Oboes in C Major, Op. 9

  1. Collegium Musicum 90/Standage – CHAN 0610

Concerto No. 12 in D major for 2 Oboes, Op.9

  1. I Musici – Philips 464 052 – 2
  2. The London Virtuosi / John Georgiadis / Anthony Camden, oboe / Alison Alty, oboe – Naxos 8.553035

OPUS 10

Concerto for Violin and Strings No. 1, Op.10

  1.  I Solisti Veneti, Toso – Erato 0630 – 18943 – 2

Concerto No.1, Op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone – Erato 0630 – 18943 – 2

Concerto No.2 in G Minor op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone, Toso (violin)  – Erato 0630 189 43 -2

Concerto No.3 in C, Op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone – Erato 0630 18943 – 2

Concerto No.4 in G, Op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone, Toso, (violin) – Erato 0630

Concerto No. 5 in A Op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone – Erato 0630 18943 – 2

Concerto No.6 for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone, Toso, violin – Erato 06030 18943 – 2
  2. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone, Toso – MCA MACD2-9800-A

Concerto No.7,  Op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone, Carmingnola (violin) – Erato/Warner 0630 – 18943 – 2

Concerto No.9  for Violin in C. Op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone, Carmingnola – Erato 0630 18943 – 2

Concerto No.10, Op.10

  1. I Solisti Veneti/Scimone, Carmingnola (violin)  – Erato 0630 18943 – 2

Il Nome Glorioso – Sinfonia

  1. Philharmonia Orchestra, Wallace (trumpet) – Nimbus NI 7012

Sources:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomaso_Albinoni#Biography
  2. http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Albinoni-Tomaso.htm 
  3. http://www.baroquemusic.org/bioalbinoni.html
  4. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tomaso-albinoni-mn0000058485 
  5. http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0016846/
  6. https://www.discogs.com/artist/95541-Tomaso-Albinoni