Baldassare Galuppi was an influential and prolific composer of opera and sacred works who maintains a prominent place in the history of 18th-century Venetian music. He was renowned as a keyboard virtuoso, and the sonatas he wrote throughout his life met with appreciable success – the imaginative and improvisatory Sonata in D being one of the most famous in its day. These works – played here in world premiere recordings on harpsichord and organ by acclaimed soloist Luigi Chiarizia – present shining examples of Galuppi’s art from a splendid and arguably unequalled period of Italian instrumental music.

Luigi Chiarizia is a harpsichordist, organist, cellist and composer born to a family of artists. At the age of 19, he debuted with I Solisti Aquilani, and at 25 he had already appeared in over eighty public concerts. His compositions have been performed by Federica Carnevale, Lorenzo Fragassi, Floranna Spreafico, Massimo Salcito and Laura Marchiò, who premièred Carillon d'argento at Villa Morando, in Brescia. In 2008 he won third price at the ‘Rosolino Toscano’ 11th National Composition Competition of Pescara. He is the harpsichordist of the “Ottorino Respighi” Chamber Orchestra. Chiarizia has recorded CDs featuring works by B. Galuppi, J. Loeillet, C.F. Schale, L. & F. Couperin for Urania Records; a double-CD entitled “Sogno Infranto” featuring some of his own compositions for Amadeus Arte; and a CD with works by F. Chelleri for Brilliant.

Recording place: Palazzo Chiarizia, l’Aquila (Sonatas for harpsichord), Basilica di San Giuseppe Artigiano, l’Aquila (Sonatas for organ)