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Gary Cooper (harpsichord, spinet, square piano & organ)

Pavlo Beznosiuk & Caroline Balding (violins)
Richard Tunnicliffe (cello)

Along with his friend and teacher Charles Avison, John Garth was one of the leading lights of the music scene in northern England in the late 18th century. His music was completely neglected until re-introduced by the Avison Ensemble in concerts and with our world premiere recording of his now-famous Cello Concertos.

In his lifetime Garth was best known for his Op. 2 Keyboard Sonatas, written in the northern English style with accompaniment by two violins and cello; this and the Op. 4 set represent almost the last flowering of the true baroque era. Each sonata is in two-movement form and while thoroughly 'conventional' in style, include some masterful composition and endlessly fascinating listening. We are delighted to have made another recording with the superb Gary Cooper who performs on harpsichord (by Kirkman), spinet (by Relfe, 1730), square piano (by Joseph Kirckman, 1797) and organ (by William Drake).

This is our 8th world premiere recording and these have all been of fantastic music from North East England. 2 CD set on Divine Art.

• World premiere recording

'The recording is excellent, as it needs to be, in order to do justice to the top-drawer musicianship on display from these fine players.' International Record Review

AVAILABLE NOW on CD and to download!

Downloads available on iTunes and here.

Robert Howarth (director & harpsichord)
Mhairi Lawson & Lisa Wilson (sopranos)
Pavlo Beznosiuk (violin)

Inspired by the discovery of an original manuscript by Charles Avison containing songs in tribute to the Jacobite rebellion, Rebellion! features music by Handel, Geminiani and Avison, setting the background to the political scene in Britain in the early 18th century.

A number of newly discovered works are featured on the recording, including movements of an Avison harpsichord concerto and Scottish songs, and the rebellious proceedings are dramatically interrupted by the inclusion of the beautiful Dirge written by Avison at the request of David Garrick to be performed in his London production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Songs by Avison ~ Lochmaben Gate*, The auld Stuarts back again*, The Chevalier’s Muster-Roll*, Dirge*, The Song of M’Rimmon Glash* and Lenachan’s Farewell*
Also songs by Handel and Anon.
F. Geminiani ~ Violin Sonata Op. 4 No. 1
Avison ~ Five movements of a Keyboard Concerto*

• World premiere recordings*

Pavlo Beznosiuk & Caroline Balding (violins)
Paula Chateauneuf (archlute & guitar)
Richard Tunnicliffe (cello)
Roger Hamilton (harpsichord & organ)

A fittingly satisfying finale to our series of recordings of Corelli's music, his church sonatas are exquisite, highly refined compositions representing a high point of Italian Baroque instrumental music. Corelli's contribution to the history of violin performance was immense. All six of his published collections of instrumental music demonstrate his exceptional skill as a violinist and composer.

This is the final recording in our greatly anticipated series of Corelli's complete chamber music on Linn Records celebrating the 300th anniversary of the composer's death in 2013. 2 CD set on Linn Records.

• BBC Music Magazine 'Chamber Choice', October 2014

"I have enjoyed every one of the discs in this series from Linn Records so far, and this last set more than lives up to expectations. These are, in sum, sincere and poised accounts, a fitting tribute to the 'chaste and faultless' character of the composer and his music." Kate Bolton, BBC Music Magazine

Pavlo Beznosiuk & Caroline Balding (violins)
Paula Chateauneuf (archlute & guitar)
Richard Tunnicliffe (cello)
Roger Hamilton (harpsichord & organ)

Popular since their publication, Arcangelo Corelli's trio sonatas are a pinnacle of Italian Baroque instrumental music. Even though there was nothing particularly new in these works when they were published, what distinguished them from those by Corelli's contemporaries was the superior level of craftsmanship; they are of the highest quality, exquisitely refined and a good example of perfection in music.

Unlike others, Corelli did not write an ostentatious violin line to demonstrate the dexterity of the performer. Instead, his violin parts are simple, but beautifully constructed and designed to accentuate Corelli's archangel-like demeanour.

This is the third recording in our greatly anticipated series of Corelli's complete chamber music on Linn Records and we will release one further recording of Corelli in 2013 as part our celebration of the 300th anniversary of the composer's death. 2 CD set on Linn Records.

"The Avison Ensemble continue their stunning Corelli anniversary recording project with two of the less-often-recorded opuses, the sonate da camera. Pavlo Beznosiuk and the Avison Ensemble have clearly given much thought and attention to their performances: beautifully understated, and allowing the music to speak for itself." Julie Anne Sadle, Gramophone Magazine

Following the enormous success of  our recordings of Garth's Cello Concertos and Avison's Concerti after Geminiani here is another premiere recording of the finest baroque music. Opus 9 was one of Avison's most popular sets of concertos published in his lifetime and shows him at the height of his powers. The complete set is recorded here for the first time with his final set of published works, the rich and varied opus 10. Even before its official release this recording was chosen by Classic FM as their disc of the week. 2 CD set on Divine Art.

• Classic FM Disc of the Week, 24 August 2008
• World premiere recording

"Avison's Opus 9 and Opus 10 'Concerti Grossi' are sweetly melodic, succinct and conservative. Led by Pavlo Beznosuik, the ensemble does its composer proud in a stylish series of sturdy allegros, graceful largos and delicate, attractive arias." Anna Picard, The Daily Telegraph

This world-premiere recording of Charles Avison's opus 6 displays the full imagination and variety of England's greatest concerto composer of the 18th century. They perhaps reveal a tunefulness and style that could be classed as a Geordie idiom? An important addition to any collection of English baroque music. 2 CD set on Naxos.

• World premiere recording

"The arrival of this splendid issue should surely win Avison the host of new friends he certainly deserves. The scores are also unusually well supplied with very precise phrasing and dynamic markings, of which the Avison Ensemble take full advantage in spirited, crisply articulated and expressive performances." Elizabeth Roche, The Daily Telegraph

Gary Cooper (harpsichord)
Pavlo Beznosiuk & Caroline Balding (violins)
Robin Michael (cello)

This set is the final release in the Avison Ensemble's complete recording of Avison's orchestral and chamber music, marvellous baroque works of inspiration which have been greeted with delight by customers and critics alike. Here we have the twelve harpsichord sonatas of Op. 5 and 7 - a worthy culmination of a revelatory series showcasing Avison's genius. We're delighted to be joined by the superb Gary Cooper who revels in Avison's writing for harpsichord. 2 CD set on Divine Art.

• MusicWeb recording of the month, November 2010
• World premiere recording

"Such a rich sound & affectionable performances & adding to our knowledge and appreciation of one of Northern England's unsung musical heroes" Andrew McGregor, BBC Radio 3 CD Review

Robert Howarth (harpsichord & chest organ)
Pavlo Beznosiuk & Caroline Balding (violins)
Richard Tunnicliffe (cello)

These hitherto unknown works are real baroque gems. The opus 1 Trio Sonatas led by the strings, are accompanied by Robert Howarth on chest organ continuo; while Robert moves front of stage and to the harpsichord in the Keyboard Sonatas, opus 8. 2 CD set on Divine Art.

• World premiere recording

"… Played here with relish and charm by the four members of the Avison Ensemble. It characterizes so much of what I feel about this release; essentially, that the rediscovery of this composer and his music in recent years has been long overdue.  … Ideal sound. That little set of variations at the end of Avison's Op, 8 is just the icing on the cake of a most desirable release." Piers Burton-Page, International Record Review

Thought by many to be Avison's greatest masterpieces, these arrangements of Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas were for many decades the only Avison music known. The set shows Avison's considerable creative skill as an arranger, and clearly shows his great love of Scarlatti. This is sublime baroque music at its best, performed on period instruments. 2 CD set on Divine Art.

• BBC Radio 3 Essential CD of the Week, 7th - 11th November 2011

"The playing is uniformly superb. The results, especially in performances of this calibre, are such that the listener is able... to return to the originals with fresh ears - surely the measure of success of any good transcription... The recorded sound is excellent.... Fascinating and colourful works." Robert Levett, International Record Review

Charles Avison wrote these concertos to fill the demand for music by orchestral and concert societies around the country in the 18th century. It is likely they were well known in their time, but as fashions and tastes changed they were left overlooked. This set of 14 concertos gives a fascinating insight into the world of music making in the mid 18th century and show why Avison is regarded at the greatest English concerto of the 18th century. 2 CD set on Naxos.

• World premiere recording

"Here the concertos are played by the Newcastle-based Avison Ensemble, directed by Pavlo Beznosiuk. Beznosiuk and the other unnamed soloists contribute some fine solo playing in the concertino sections and are well supported by the main ensemble. They play Avison's music with crisp precision and lively bounce, giving it an apposite stylishness." Robert Hugill, MusicWeb International

Music by Charles Avison, John Garth, William Herschel

Charles Avison ~ Concerti Grossi Op. 3 Nos. 2 and 6, and Concerto after Scarlatti No. 12 in D major
John Garth ~ Cello Concerto No. 6 in G Major
William Herschel ~ Violin Concerto in D minor*

Under Charles Avison's direction his home town of Newcastle became a hotbed of culture attracting famous musicians to the town, amongst whom were violinist William Herschel (later more famous as an astronomer) and cellist John Garth, who wrote the first ever cello concertos published by an Englishman. Here we have a fine example of the lively and buoyant performances that Avison's subscription concerts must have had! Herschel and Garth both performed in Avison's orchestra.

• World premiere recording*

*** CD SOLD OUT ***

Please contact us if you're interested in this recording.

Dazzling colour, tones and textures make this Baroque masterpiece stand out as one of the definitive examples of the concerto grosso form. Widely regarded as Handel's greatest contribution to the Baroque period this triple album is the perfect debut for the Avison Ensemble on Linn Records. Pavlo Beznosiuk, who directs this fresh and insightful performance, states: 'These readings are, above all, a chance to joyously revel in some of the greatest string music ever penned'. 3 CD set on Linn Records.

• Shortlisted for the Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2011 - Baroque Instrumental category
• Awarded an Opus d'Or Award 2010
• Awarded Best Recording 2010 by High Fidelity Magazine
• Ring of ClassiqueInfo award
• Nominated for the 2011 International Classical Music Awards
• Music Web International Download of the Month, July 2010
• Released on Linn Records - Gramophone Magazine Label of the Year 2010

"Where the Avison Ensemble really triumphs...is in conveying a sense of occasion and musical opulence...Magnificent!" Andrew O'Connor, International Record Review

*** CD SOLD OUT ***

CD is available from Outhere Music here.

Downloads are available from Linn Records here and  from iTunes.

Arcangelo Corelli Opus 6: Concerti Grossi is the third album in our critically acclaimed series of recordings with Linn, and the first in our recording series of Corelli's complete works. Released to mark the 300th anniversary of the death of the composer this greatly anticipated series will explore the six opera of the eminent Italian's chamber music: the concerti grossi, violin sonatas, chamber sonatas and church sonatas.

In this first recording in the series of Coreli's complete works we explore his inspirational Concerti Grossi, including a captivating interpretation of the much-loved Christmas Concerto. Although this is the best known, all twelve concertos are highly refined and reflect Corelli's exceptional skill at composition. Corelli's continual appeal is entirely due to the timeless nature of his works, particularly this set of Concerti Grossi which have admirably withstood the ravages of time. These Concerti Grossi inspired Handel to compose his own set entitled Grand Concertos and native British composers also produced a large number of such works, the most prolific of whom was Charles Avison. 2 CD set on Linn Records.

• Classic FM Drive featured album, 8th - 12th October 2012
• Nominated for MusicWeb International’s Recordings of the Year 2012

"... these new performances are ... supple and elegant, perfectly in harmony with the suave if at times austere character of the music and, above all, architecturally shaped with subtlety and finesse. Improvised ornamentation has been added with discretion and care, and the sense of ensemble is faultless and, in the faster movements, breathtakingly impressive." Iain Fenlon, Gramophone Magazine

 *** CD SOLD OUT ***
CD is available from Outhere Music here.
Downloads are available from Linn Records here and  from iTunes.

Vivaldi’s most famous work, Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons), contains some of the most instantly recognizable music ever composed and is today viewed as a pinnacle of musical art. In their second release on Linn Records the Avison Ensemble explores the rich diversity and delights of all twelve concertos in Vivaldi’s Opus 8. Pavlo Beznosiuk, directing this refreshing performance, states:  ‘The Fours Seasons are well-known, well-loved and great fun to play, but let us not forget how richly characterful the other eight concerti are also. Throughout the set Vivaldi’s musical energy vibrates within us, connecting us to him in an irresistible, celebratory collection’. 2 CD set on Linn Records.

• BBC Radio 3 CD Review Disc of the Week, 19th November 2011

"... a recording of Vivaldi I've really enjoyed ... Here's a disc that presents those four famous concertos in context. The seasons are fine but there are so many joys in the rest of the concertos. Lovely, warm colourful playing."
Andrew McGregor, BBC Radio 3 CD Review

 *** CD SOLD OUT ***
CD is available from Outhere Music here.
Downloads are available from Linn Records here and  from iTunes.

There are many fine compositions still lying undiscovered, and until recently this was true of the six Cello Concertos by John Garth. This native of Durham in Northern England proves to be a brilliant composer, and these concertos (which are believed to be the earliest examples of the Cello Concerto written in Britain) are surely the equal of those produced by Handel. Played on period instruments by one of Europe's leading baroque-music ensembles. 2 CD set on Divine Art.

• Selected for Fanfare Magazine's Hall of Fame
• World premiere recording

"The performers here cherish every note of the music. This is a very fine achievement. Memorable music, persuasively performed, richly recorded and among the most rewarding releases of the year." Simon Heighes, International Record Review

Pavlo Beznosiuk (violin)
Paula Chateauneuf (archlute & guitar)
Richard Tunnicliffe (cello)
Roger Hamilton (harpsichord & organ)

Arcangelo Corelli's contribution to the history of violin performance was immense. All six of his published collections of instrumental music demonstrate his exceptional skill as a violinist and composer, but it was in his Opus 5 Violin Sonatas that Corelli had the most significant impact on violin technique.

The Opus 5 collection consists of eleven sonatas; the twelfth, and most popular, work is a series of twenty-three variations on the ‘Follia' of which Corelli was especially proud. All twelve pieces contain a variety of difficult violin techniques and violinist Pavlo Beznosiuk takes centre stage in this recording, his polished playing thrilling in its virtuosity.

This is the second recording in our greatly anticipated series of Corelli's complete chamber music on Linn Records and we will release two further recordings of Corelli in 2013 as part our celebration of the 300th anniversary of the composer's death. 2 CD set on Linn Records.

• Blog.codaex.de CD of the Month April 2013

"The playing of the Avison Ensemble, and in particular of Beznosiuk, has enough audacity, daring and originality to make these astounding performances something truly special. I relished the superb playing and thoroughgoing musical intelligence informing these new Avison Ensemble accounts." Michael Jameson, International Record Review

Charles Avison was long neglected, but is now being recognised as one of the most brilliant and accomplished English composers of the 18th century. These recently discovered 12 Concerti are based on Geminiani's opus 1 violin sonatas, are played on period instruments and are recorded here for the first time by the Avison Ensemble which has itself made a reputation as one of the finest instrumental ensembles in Europe. 2 CD set on Divine Art.

• World premiere recording

"This is music of outstanding quality.  The performances are outstanding.  The band is richly sonorous; the ensemble is faultless; the tempi are seemingly infallibly judged;  the phrasing is subtle and expressive; and virtuoso solos are dispatched with aplomb.  What more could one possibly want?  They must surely be one of the finest baroque ensembles now in existence." Richard Maunder, Early Music News

Dr Roz Southey, lecturer at Newcastle University, has written widely on music making in the northeast during the eighteenth century. Margaret Maddison is a retired librarian who has studied many aspects of the cultural and social history of the region and has written many articles for a number of journals. David Hughes is a founder member of the Avison Society and has lectured extensively on Avison and his place in the cultural life of the area.

Charles Avison (1709-1770) was a remarkable Tyneside musician who became England's most important 18th-century concerto composer. Now the first full-length biography tells the talented composer's story, and how, through enterprise and determination, he made Newcastle upon Tyne England's greatest provincial music center of the time. The Ingenious Mr. Avison explores a world of fashionable concerts, money-making, rivalry, wigs, waistcoats, dancing, love affairs, and family tragedy. This well-researched survey also includes details of Avison's published works, a discography, and extensive notes. It is essential reading for students of English music and an informative and entertaining window onto provincial musical life in the 18th century.

156 pages, softback
ISBN No - 978 1857951295

"This is a very enjoyable account of the life of an extraordinary Geordie. It is written primarily for the general public and should appeal to anyone interested in the music of the 18th century and the North East during the Georgian era. In addition, the book is well illustrated."
Review from Amazon.co.uk

The Avison Ensemble has edited and prepared a modern edition of each of John Garth's Six Cello Concertos from the manuscripts. The Concertos are available individually in PDF format ready for performance use and include:

• full score
• cello solo part
• violin I, violin II, viola, cello/bass, continuo parts
• cello/basso part
• programme notes (in a Word document)

The scores are available exclusively from us and upon payment will be sent via email in PDF format ready to be printed by you. The individual Concerto scores are available for £50 each. During the PayPal payment process please indicate in the Notes field which of the following scores you require:

• Concerto No. 1 in D major
• Concerto No. 2 in B flat major
• Concerto No. 3 in A major
• Concerto No. 4 in B flat major
• Concerto No. 5 in D minor
• Concerto No. 6 in G major

Further details and sample pages can be found here.