CARL FRIEDRICH ABEL (1723-1787): Quartets for Viola da gamba, Violin, Viola and Cello in A and in B, Op. 8, Nos. 5 and 2, Concerto for Harpsichord, 2 Violins and Continuo in D, Op. 11/4, Aria Frena le belle lagrime from the Opera Sifari for Soprano, Viola da gamba, Strings and Continuo, JOHANN ADOLF HASSE (1699-1783): Aria L’Augelletto in lacci stretto from the Opera Didone abbandonata for Soprano, Viola da gamba, Strings and Continuo.

Description: The viola da gamba, given late life by the adoring Abel, purrs like a contented cat in the middle of the string trio textures in the gentle and soothing quartets while the harpsichord concerto delivers more lively Classical style in 1768. Abel was an orchestral player under Hasse and there are interesting links between the two arias explained in the notes; this is Abel’s only work for the stage: a single aria for a pasticcio opera of c.1767. Italian-English texts. Dorothee Mields (soprano), Hamburger Ratsmusik; Simone Eckert.