Leclair - Violin Concertos

The Guardian 60

Fabio Biondi (violin, director), Europa Galante
(Glossa)

Poor Jean-Marie Leclair had little success with his single opera, then split up from his wife, moved to a dangerous part of Paris and was murdered in 1764, probably by his nephew with whom he had fallen out. Yet you could not guess any of that from these smiling, effective concertos, in which the prevalent style of Vivaldi is softened by a lovely French sensibility. In place of the hectoring arpeggios and insistent rhythms of the Italians are lyrical melodies and yearning sequences. Using slightly lower pitch increases their eloquence, and Fabio Biondi’s playing with his fine ensemble is beyond reproach. Not earth-shattering music, but very elegant.