The third release by Mike Fentross and his group La Sfera Armoniosa on Challenge Classics. This new recording is notably interesting as it introduces us to a baroque Dutch composer whose Concertos deserve our attention: Willem de Fesch.

Willem De Fesch was born in Alkmaar in 1687. He deserves an honorable place alongside such greats as Vivaldi and Handel, as his works sound at least as colourful, playful, inventive and sparkling as those of his contemporaries. Sometime after 1700 his parents returned with him to Amsterdam. By then, the city had become an epicentre of music publishers. Many Italian composers published their work in the city; Vivaldi made public appearances and in 1729, Pietro Locatelli even opted to move there.

In 1708, De Fesch was appointed violinist in the orchestra of the Amsterdam City Theatre. He composed a lot of music for stage performances himself, such as the concertos in C major and A minor on this CD. As far as we know, orchestral works only started to appear again in 1741: the audibly matured Opus 10, also on this CD.

La Sfera Armoniosa’s previous Purcell album (CC72783) and especially the world-premiere recording of L’Ipermestra by Cavalli (CC72774) have been greatly acclaimed by worldwide classical magazines.